III 112th CONGRESS 2d Session S. CON. RES. 65 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES December 19, 2012 Mr. Warner (for himself, Mr. Webb, and Mr. McCain) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services CONCURRENT RESOLUTION Congratulating the Navy and the current and former officers and crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise (CVN 65) on completion of the 25th and final deployment of the vessel.

Whereas, on November 4, 2012, the U.S.S. Enterprise returned to her homeport of Norfolk, Virginia, after completing the 25th and final deployment of the vessel; Whereas the U.S.S. Enterprise, the first nuclear powered aircraft carrier to serve the United States, is scheduled for inactivation in December 2012 after more than 51 years in active service to the Navy and the Nation; Whereas the U.S.S. Enterprise is the 8th vessel to bear that name and justly and rightfully maintained the honor and tradition of those vessels that previously bore the name; Whereas the U.S.S. Enterprise participated in the embargo of the island of Cuba ordered by President John Kennedy in the fall of 1962, helping to prevent an escalation of that crisis; Whereas the U.S.S. Enterprise conducted multiple deployments in support of combat operations during the Vietnam War; Whereas the U.S.S. Enterprise, upon receiving the news of the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States while returning home from a six-month deployment, immediately reversed course and was deployed in the Arabian Sea; Whereas the U.S.S. Enterprise launched hundreds of air strikes into Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom throughout October 2001 to destroy Taliban and al Qaeda targets; Whereas the U.S.S. Enterprise deployed six times over the last 11 years to conduct combat operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom; and Whereas the U.S.S. Enterprise and the 10 Nimitz-class aircraft carriers of the Navy have proven the wisdom and value of nuclear powered aircraft carriers, which have played crucial roles across the range of military operations, from humanitarian assistance to combat operations, including operations in Iraq and Afghanistan since the beginnings of hostilities, providing, from the sea, unparalleled precision strike, close air support, and surveillance in support of ground combat operations: Now, therefore, be it

That Congress— (1)congratulates the Navy and the many crews of the U.S.S. Enterprise (CVN 65) on having provided the United States an incalculable service in international relations and engagement and in the prevention and winning of armed conflicts over the 51-year period of the service of the U.S.S. Enterprise; (2)honors the service and memory of the 121 Sailors who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country while serving onboard U.S.S. Enterprise, including the 30 that were killed in action during the Vietnam War; (3)honors the service of the 20 U.S.S. Enterprise Sailors who were held as Prisoners of War during the Vietnam War, the 3 who died in captivity, and the 5 that are still listed as missing-in-action; and (4)congratulates the nearly 100,000 current and former Sailors who have served on the U.S.S. Enterprise and thanks them for the selfless sacrifice they made in service to the United States.