USS KITTY HAWK RETURN TO JAPAN: PHOTOS

email | May 6, 2003 | idc_USN

[Jim Robinson]

Received via email:

Mr. Robinson,

My name is Ben [last name deleted], a fellow FReeper, stationed at the Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan. My screen name is idc_USN.

I have attached several digital photos of the return of the USS Kitty Hawk BATTLE GROUP triumphant return to Yokosuka from OIF early this morning (Tuesday, 06 May). As I know these are the first photos coming out of here, (media attention was negligible), I beat CNN Asia and the other media outlets to the punch. I am not too literate on how to post pictures on the internet, but certainly wanted to share these with you and our constituents.

God bless you, the fine work you do, and America. Enjoy!

I will send more photos in another email.

Respectfully, Ben

[Jim Robinson]

Thank you, Ben!!

[MEG33]

Beautiful!

[Jim Robinson]

Welcome home to Yokosuka, USS KITTY HAWK!!

Job well done!!

[Jean S]

Great pictures! Thank you.
My first though was, how does it keep afloat? It looks so top-heavy.

[LibWhacker]

Great pics! Let freedom ring.

[Mr. Mojo]

The USS Abraham Lincoln is cruising post my house on the Puget Sound tomorrow on its way to its base in Everett. I don't know what time, so I'll have to be outside all day looking in the general direction.

Welcome home Kitty Hawk!

[GrandMoM]

....isn't it GREAT to be an American!!!!!!!!!

....I am so proud of ALL the young men and women who protect AMERICA!

[farmfriend]

All hands on deck.

[bd476]

Thank you Ben for sending these great photos of the USS Kitty Hawk! Thank you, Jim Robinson for having this site available so we can see them!

Ben, thank you for serving our country! Jim, thank you again and again for your years in our armed forces!

God Bless the USS Kitty Hawk and God Bless America!

[Kakaze]

" Thank you, Ben!! "

Stunning..........grand photos.........

Thank you:)

[SkyPilot]

Marvelous. To see that ship and those proud sailors is a wonderful sight.

[bruinbirdman]

That boat IS riding a little above the waterline. Musta unloaded a lot of stuff on Iraq.

yitbos

[Flyer]

Thank you, Ben, for your service to our country and the great pictures.

[dk/coro]

Many thanks for the marvelous pictures of this magnificent part of our Navy heritage!

The Hawk and Connie have served us so well. I have had the honor of many landings in each, many years ago; and their pending de-commissionings mark a very sad point in my old navy life.

What great and gallant Ladies they are; and I am so glad to see KH worked her way through the avoidable command troubles that plagued her prior to her latest deployment. She deserved so much better !!

"Bravo Zulu", dear gal !!!

[Terp]

Some nice pics Ben. I just retired from the Navy and my last assignment was Combat Systems there in Yokosuka. See they haven't got the new carrier pier done yet. Hope things are going good for you in Yoko and I'm sure the place is going crazy now that most of the Battle Group is back.

[Robert Drobot]

USS KITTY HAWK FLIES THE NAVY JACK

As the first ships of the Continental Navy readied in the Delaware River during the fall of 1775, Commodore Esek Hopkins issued a set of fleet signals. His signals for the fleet to engage the enemy provided for the "Strip'd Jack and Ensign at their proper places." Thus, the First Navy Jack was a flag consisting of 13 horizontal alternating red and white stripes bearing diagonally across them a rattlesnake in a moving position with the motto "Don’t Tread On Me."

In 1977, the Secretary of the Navy directed that the ship in active status with the longest total period of active service shall display the First Navy Jack until decommissioned or transferred to inactive service, at which time the flag shall be passed to the next ship in line with appropriate honors. The display of this jack by the oldest ship in the fleet is an appropriate form of recognition and promotes pride of service, enhances morale, and contributes to the tradition of naval service.

USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63)became the oldest active ship in the United States Navy upon the decommissioning of USS Independence (CV 62) on September 30, 1998. Kitty Hawk is only the second aircraft carrier ever to hold the honor of flying the First Navy Jack.
http://navyjack.info/first.html

PROUD
TO BE
AN AMERICAN

[Simcha7]

Shalom!

Hi...Mr. Robinson and also Ben,

The Pictures of Miss. Kitty Hawk and her Saliors are just Breathtakingly Beautiful!

Thank You so very, very much for posting them.

And Thank You Both for Loving and Serving our Country and for Keeping us Safe and Free from those who would harm us.

Because of our Brave men and women in Uniform: Past, Present and Future we can Sleep Soundly at night in our warm and comfortable beds.

We are very, very Proud of ALL of You!

GOD BLESS AND KEEP YOU ALWAYS IN HIS LOVING CARE.

With LOVE and PRAYERS from a very Grateful American.

[KeyWest]

Brings back lots of memories. Back then it was the Midway. I think Sterret was also homeported there. We stayed on station in Vietnam for an extra month so the Yoko DLG (now CG) could go home at Christmas. No big deal since we were not going anywhere for a while. I was on Wainwright. Great ship.

Visited Yoko many times on Wiltsie and Wainwright. When I was at PacFleet, SRF Yoko was my responsibility. Great facility.

[TomB]

USS Kitty Hawk........arriving.

Bump

[Steelerfan]

Great pictures, thanks to you and Ben for sharing.