• Military Menu                       

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

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Princeton Celebrates 19th Birthday

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080219-05
Release Date: 2/19/2008 2:32:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class (SW) John Scorza, Carrier Strike Group 11 Public Affairs

USS PRINCETON, At Sea (NNS) -- The guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59) celebrated its 19th birthday Feb. 11 while at sea during a regularly scheduled deployment.

The celebration kicked off with a cake-cutting ceremony performed in the traditional Navy style as new salts and old salts came together. The ceremony was followed by games held on the mess decks.

The oldest Sailor on board, Chief Boatswain's Mate (SW) Michael Scinta, teamed up with the youngest Sailor on board, Seaman Raul Benitez, to cut the cake. More than 38 years in age and 20 years of service separate the two Sailors.

Scinta and Princeton also have something in common; they share the same birthday. Before cutting the cake, Scinta addressed the crew.

"I hope all of you live to be 56, and I hope all of you enjoy your Navy career as much as I have," said Scinta.

For Benitez, who has recently checked aboard Princeton, it was a honor to cut the cake.

"It's an honor ... since I've only been on board for two weeks," said Benitez. "It's a nice 'welcome aboard'."

The two Sailors were joined by the ship's mascot – a tiger – the ship's most junior officer, Ensign Jeremiah Batista. He livened up the celebration with some mascot shenanigans shortly after the cake cutting and paved the way for a fun night on the mess decks.

"There is a lot that goes on at sea in order to stay trained and operational, but the spirit of the ship is the crew and it's important to take time to relax and celebrate these events", said Lt. Cmdr. Tom Moninger, Princeton's executive officer.

Homeported in San Diego, Princeton is commanded by Capt. David W. Melin and is part of the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG).

The Nimitz CSG, commanded by Rear Adm. Terry Blake, is comprised of Commander, CSG 11, the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Nimitz; its embarked air wing, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11; embarked Destroyer Squadron 23; the guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59); the guided-missile destroyers USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53), USS Higgins (DDG 76), and USS Chafee (DDG 90); Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron Light HSL 49 "Scorpions," (HSL) 37 "Easy Riders"; and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 11.

CVW-11's squadrons include the "Tophatters" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 14, the "Black Aces" of VFA-41, the "Sunliners" of VFA-81, the "Wallbangers" of Airborne Early Warning Squadron 117, the "Red Devils" of Marine Corps Strike Fighter Squadron 232, the "Black Ravens" of Electronic Warfare Squadron 135, the "Providers" of Carrier Logistics Support Squadron 30 and the "Indians" of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 6.

The Nimitz CSG departed on a regularly scheduled Western Pacific deployment Jan. 24 and is now operating as part of the U.S. 7th Fleet. Operating in the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans, the 7th Fleet is the largest of the forward-deployed U.S. fleets, with approximately 50 ships, 120 aircraft and 20,000 Sailors and Marines assigned at any given time.

For more news from USS Princeton, visit www.navy.mil/local/cg59/.