USS Carl Vinson Celebrates 30th Anniversary While at Sea

The USS Carl Vinson celebrates its 30th anniversary Tuesday, an event the crew is marking via its Facebook page, Twitter account and a commemorative edition of its Vinson Voice.

The celebrations include current and former crew members, a huge cake and an overhead shot of the carrier with some of the crew assembling to spell out “30” on the deck.

The ship has been homeported in Coronado for two years, long enough to be part of , and also to play host to a .

Some facts about the carrier's history, as compiled in the Vinson Voice include:

• A year after it was commissioned in 1982, the Vinson embarked on its maiden voyage, ending by arriving at its homeport in Alameda.
• In October 2001, the Vinson launched the first air strikes in Operation Enduring Freedom.
• In January 2005, the ship left for a six-month deployment, part of which is spent in the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
• A boy's life is saved onboard the ship in January 2010 when CNN medical correspondent – and surgeon – Dr. Sanjay Gupta joined Navy doctors in aiding a victim of the Haiti earthquake. The Vinson supported relief efforts.

The Vinson, which deployed in November, is in the Arabian Sea, as tensions have risen with Iran.

The crew has had fun moments in the days leading up to the anniversary, despite the mission's challenges. Their Facebook page announced a visit from heralded journalist Dan Rather, who was taping a segment, and members participated in a 5K fun run last week. 

For more information on the ship's history, communications and flight operations, see the Vinson Voice.