The USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67)

USS JFK Story

Named in honor of the thirty-fifth President of the United States, the USS John F. Kennedy was christened in May of 1967 by the late President's daughter, Caroline, prior to its entry into naval service on September 7, 1968.

                               Photo By Robert M. Cieri                                                                    Photo By Omar Rubido

Ordered as a nuclear powered carrier, plans changed during her construction and she was built as a conventionally powered vessel.   “Big John,” as she was nicknamed, began life as a CVA air combat ship but the Navy changed her designation to a CV ship because she was also capable of anti-submarine warfare.  The ship served numerous deployments, primarily in the Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean, including battle postings during Desert Shield, Desert Storm and the war in Afghanistan.  

U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 1st Class Greg Curry

The Navy decommissioned the USS John F. Kennedy, one of the last two conventionally-powered carriers in its fleet, on March 23, 2007 after nearly forty years in service. 

U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Susan Cornell

For further information on the USS John F. Kennedy CV-67 including historic photographs:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_John_F._Kennedy_(CV-67)

http://www.navybuddies.com/cvn/cv67.htm

http://www.navsource.org/archives/02/67.htm