Today marks the 30th anniversary of the day the Navy commissioned the San Diego-based USS Carl Vinson.
The enormous nuclear-powered aircraft carrier has made history many times throughout its three decades of service. According to the Navy:
In recent years, the Vinson has made international headlines for being the ship responsible for the burial-at-sea of Osama bin Laden. On Veterans Day of 2011, the Vinson was the site of the Carrier Classic, and thus became the first live aircraft carrier to host a college basketball game on its flight deck.
A big birthday party is planned on board the Vinson today, complete with that enormous cake pictured at the top of this post.
Have you served on the USS Carl Vinson? What special memories do you have of being part of the Vinson crew?
