• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Kennedy Makes Port Call in Boston

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS050520-16
Release Date: 5/20/2005 12:17:00 PM

By Journalist 1st Class (SW/AW) Christopher E. Tucker and Journalist 2nd Class (SW) Timothy Cox, USS John F. Kennedy Public Affairs

ABOARD USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (NNS) -- The aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) pulled into Boston Harbor May 19 for a four-day goodwill visit.

The port call marked the carrier’s first in five years and afforded the residents of Boston the opportunity to get a closer look at the national strategic asset.

“It’s great to be back,” said Kennedy’s Commanding Officer Capt. Dennis FitzPatrick. “Our namesake says it all: This is Boston’s aircraft carrier.”

In addition to ship’s company and Sailors from Carrier Air Wing 17, Marines from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) are taking part in the visit.

24th MEU Commanding Officer Marine Col. Ron Johnson, a native of Duxbury, Mass., said his Marines were looking forward to their first port call since returning from Iraq, and the opportunity to make the trip aboard the Mayport, Fla.-based carrier proved especially poignant for him.

“There are only two pictures that we have in our house being Irish Catholics - one is the Pope and the other is JFK,” said Johnson. “So, being able to ride John F. Kennedy back into Boston is an extreme privilege, and I am really proud to do it.”

The port visit coincides with Armed Forces Day and to mark the observance, the ship is opening the brow for public tours, which are expected to draw thousands over the course of the weekend.

For most of the Sailors and embarked Marines, it will be their first time visiting the city, but for a handful, the port call represents a homecoming of sorts.

“It was a tremendous feeling pulling into Boston,” said Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class (AW) Raymond Gibree, who hails from Worcester, Mass. “It’s an extremely patriotic town, and you can tell by all the people out here who support us.”

Following the port call to Boston, the 80,000-ton carrier will head to New York City to participate in Fleet Week 2005 May 25–June 1.