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USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69)

Please see below for item level images and donated collections containing photographs of USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69)

USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) launched 11 October 1975 after christening by Mamie Doud Eisenhower, Dwight Eisenhower's widow, and commissioned 18 October 1977, Captain William E. Ramsey in command. 

USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) was initially assigned to the United States Atlantic Fleet, and, after receiving over a year of training. Under the command of her second Commanding Officer, Captain James H. Mauldin, her second deployment occurred in 1980, when she was dispatched by President Carter to the Indian Ocean, in response to the Iran hostage crisis. USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) returned to the Mediterranean Sea for her third deployment, under the command of her third Captain E.W. Clexton Jr., from 5 January to 13 July 1982.

After her fifth deployment USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) went into Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock in October 1985 for a major overhaul. On 29 February 1988, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) started her sixth deployment to the Mediterranean. While returning to Norfolk, on 29 August 1988, she collided with an anchored Spanish bulkcarrier, the Urduliz, while entering the harbor to dock at Norfolk Naval Station when wind and currents pushed the carrier off course, but only caused minor damage to both ships.

In response to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) became the first carrier to conduct sustained operations in the Red Sea, and only the second nuclear-powered aircraft carrier ever to transit the Suez Canal. After completion of an extensive shipyard period and work-up, the carrier deployed 26 September 1991 to the Persian Gulf to continue multi-national operations with coalition forces in support of Operation Desert Storm. USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) returned to Norfolk on 2 April 1992, and, on 12 January 1993, entered Norfolk Naval Shipyard for overhaul and conversion, returning to the fleet 12 November 1993.

Deploying in February 2000 and returning that August on the "Millennium Cruise", for the first time Ike's embarked aircraft dropped ordnance in combat while enforcing Operation Southern Watch's No-Fly Zone over Iraq. On 2 January 2010, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) again deployed to the US 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operation in the Middle East.

USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) is scheduled to be eventually replaced around 2029 by the new USS Enterprise (CVN-80).