First I'd heard about a moved up 06 decom date. Thanks. Looks like Bean Town clan is pushing for another shrine. Well she's the last of the conventional steamers. Kinda watch and see if the Mayport pier actually gets another home port carrier or not. The way things are being done they may start using it as a rotating part time carrier port of call instead. Just a hunch.
They were going to use the Kennedy to replace the Kitty Hawk in Japan, but the Japanese have agreed to take a nuclear powered ship with certain restrictions that the navy can apparently live with, meaning that the Kennedy is no longer necessary. And it is a ship which has ruined several careers.
The navy is going to really alienate the Florida congressional delegation if they don't move a ship in to replace the Kennedy.