Aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt deploys overseas from Caribbean

Associated Press | February 4, 2003

[HAL9000]

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) - The Norfolk-based aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt and its battle group finished training Tuesday in the Caribbean and began heading overseas, the Navy said.

The Navy would say only that the battle group deployed from near Puerto Rico in support of the nation's war against terrorism and would meet other contingencies as needed. But the Roosevelt is expected to join three aircraft carriers that have moved into striking range of Iraq.

The Roosevelt departed Norfolk Jan. 6 for mandatory training before deployment.

"She's been certified (to deploy) and now she's commencing her deployment," said Cmdr. Ernest Duplessis, spokesman for the Second Fleet.

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld recently ordered the Navy to send two carrier battle groups to join two battle groups positioned within striking distance of Iraq.

Another Norfolk-based carrier, the USS Harry S. Truman, deployed Dec. 5 and is now in the Mediterranean Sea, while the San Diego-based USS Constellation is operating in the northern Persian Gulf. The USS Abraham Lincoln, based in Everett, Wash., re-entered the Arabian Sea over the weekend, defense officials said.

The Roosevelt's last deployment began just days after the Sept. 11 terror attacks, and it was in the northern Arabian Sea during the U.S.-led air campaign over Afghanistan.

About 8,000 sailors and Marines are part of the battle group.

On the Net:

USS Theodore Roosevelt: www.spear.navy.mil/tr/

[HAL9000]

I have a family member on that boat.

Their mission will be successful.

[Mariner]

Sir, that's a ship, not a boat.

[Magnum44]

Thats ok, aviators will still affectionately refer to it as a boat. Really irritates the 'black shoes'. :^)

[HAL9000]

Thank you, sir. I'll not make that mistake again.

[Republic of Texas]

I've got a cousin on the Kitty Hawk as well. I once went on a Tiger Cruise with him, and fear not, our guys are the best.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

Ships have two pointy ends. That's a boat.

[HAL9000]

I have a friend coming over in the morning who worked on the deck of an aircraft carrier during the Vietnam war. I predict he'll say it's a ship.