George Washington Strike Group MED 97 Deployment
GWSTRKGRU / GWCSG
CVN-73 George Washington
"Spirit of Freedom"

On its third deployment from Oct. 97-Apr. 98, GW spent most of its six month deployment in the Arabian Gulf as the cornerstone of the U.S. military force, which compelled Iraq to allow United Nations weapons inspectors in their country. They participated in Operation Desert Thunder and Southern Watch. The strike group made port visits to Haifa, Israel and Jebel Ali, U.A.E.