Independence awarded the Battle "E"

Independence, the oldest ship in active status, was announced as Commander, Naval Air Pacific’s Aircraft Carrier Battle Efficiency Pennant winner for 1997, recently, by the Commanding Officer, Capt. Mark R. Milliken.

According to Milliken, this is the most prestigious and honorable award a ship can receive.

Each Independence Sailor who was stationed on board between January 1, 1997 and December 31, 1997 can now wear the Battle "E" ribbon.

"I’m very proud of all of the Sailors who made this happen," Milliken said.

Each major department throughout the ship was graded on leadership, management and teamwork. Air, Communications, Damage Control, Deck, Engineering, Medical, Navigation, Operations, Supply, Weapons along with habitability each won departmental Battle Efficiency Awards.

"As the Navy’s only forward deployed aircraft carrier, Indy set the standard for combat readiness for all other aircraft carriers in the Pacific Fleet," Rear Adm. Charles W. Moore Jr., Battle Force FIFTH Fleet wrote in a message to the crew. "Your performance across the board was absolutely superb."

Independence, commonly referred to as the oldest and finest, was in competition with newer carriers such as Nimitz and Abraham Lincoln.

However, Milliken said it really wasn’t the ship that won, but the Sailors.

Vice Adm. Mike Bowman, Commander, Naval Air Pacific thanked every Sailor whose hard work and dedication "made it happen."

Last year Independence was at sea 178 days, according to the ship’s history.

"Being out to sea helped maintain our proficiency," Milliken said. "It takes a team effort to pull together to earn this award."

During 1997, the crew had a chance to work together in 12 major exercises, spanning the spectrum from TANDEM THRUST off the coast of Australia, ANNUALEX in the Sea of Japan, to COBRA GOLD with the Royal Thai Navy.

"It’s good to know that all our hard work was recognized," Boatswain’s Mate 3^rd Class Curtis Foster, a native of Houston, Texas said. "I’m looking forward to putting on the ribbon."

Due to Indy’s decommissioning this fall, this will be the last time the ship will be a Battle "E" participant.

Caption: Independence, currently in the Arabian Gulf, is 1997’s COMNAVAIRPAC’s Battle "E" winner. PHOTO BY: PH2 JOHN YODER.