Dave Eberhart, NewsMax.com
Saturday, July 12, 2003

NORFOLK NAVAL BASE, Va. – "Man the ship and bring her alive!" ordered former first lady Nancy Reagan.

With that, members of the white-uniformed crew jogged to the tune of "Down, Down the Field, Navy," from Pier 14 up the gangplanks and onto the decks of the giant USS Ronald Reagan, towering 20 stories above the waterline.

"Sir, the ship is manned and ready," announced the ship's executive officer to Capt. John W. Goodwin, the newly installed skipper of the nation's ninth Nimitz-class carrier, which at 1,092 feet long is nearly as long as the Empire State Building is tall.

The final act of the commissioning ceremony was the breaking out of the flag of the vice president of the United States, honoring the presence of Dick Cheney, who had been greeted earlier in the morning with a 21-gun salute.

The vast floating airfield, with its sprawling flight deck covering 4.5 acres, stood in bold relief against the clear blue skies Saturday morning.

Prior to Mrs. Reagan's order, the formalities included the hoisting of the colors and the breaking of the commissioning pennant – as well as remarks from Sen. John Warner, R-Va., Vice President Cheney, the ship's captain and other officials, including Chief of Naval Operations Vern Clark, who remarked that the powerful ship "needs no permission slip."

'Clarity of Exit Strategy'

Sen. Warner, chairman of the Senate Armed Forces Committee, pointedly remarked that he hoped the great ship's missions in the future would be "marked by clarity of purpose and clarity of exit strategy." Earlier in his remarks, Warner recited the words of the 40th president, "Let friend and foe alike know that America has the muscle to back up its words."

Cheney, who landed in a helicopter on the flight deck, quipped that maybe one day he too would descend on a carrier in a tactical arrested landing as the commander in chief did aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln.

Cheney, the main speaker, declared that the USS Ronald Reagan was "a great American ship bearing a great American's name," noting that the president who presided over the end of the Cold War was an appropriate namesake to "convey the strength and seriousness of this country."

"Ronald Reagan changed the course of history as few men have ever done," noted Cheney, adding that the new carrier is the "only ship in the U.S. Navy bearing the name of a living president."

Stricken with Alzheimer's disease, the reportedly frail former president was home in California, being represented by his wife, who also did the honors at the ship's christening in 2001.

'First and Last Glimpse'

Cheney noted that at the outbreak of the War on Terrorism with the bombings of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, another Nimitz-class ship, the USS Enterprise, was steaming home to Norfolk, Va., its home port, when it was turned around and sent to waters near Afghanistan. Joined by other carriers in a task force that flew many sorties against enemy strong points in that country, Cheney said that, via the ships, "the Taliban got its first and last glimpse of U.S. sea power."

Referring to the ship as "100,000 tons of American ingenuity," Cheney promised that the carrier would undoubtedly have a role to play in the nation's "unrelenting global effort against terror," an effort that would not cease or waiver until "complete victory."

The air power muscle of the nation's newest carrier is transported by two nuclear reactors capable of more than 20 years of continuous service without refueling, providing virtually unlimited range and endurance, and a top speed in excess of 30 knots.

With a crew of more than 5,500 men and women, including embarked air wing personnel, the USS Ronald Reagan will be home-ported in San Diego as a member of the U.S. Pacific Fleet.

The ship will support a wide variety of aircraft, including the F/A-18 Hornet and F/A-18 Super Hornet strike fighters, the F-14 Tomcat fighter, the E-2 Hawkeye airborne early warning aircraft, the C-2 Greyhound logistics aircraft, the S-3 Viking anti-submarine aircraft, the EA-6 Prowler electronic warfare aircraft and the multi-role SH-60 and MH-60 helicopters.

Construction of the ship took place at Northrop Grumman Newport News, Va., starting with the ship's keel laying Feb. 12, 1998, and christening March 4, 2001. It cost $5 billion to build.

Michael Reagan Awed

NewsMax.com columnist and nationally syndicated radio talk show host Michael Reagan, the eldest son of President Reagan and his first wife, actress Jane Wyman, came into town Thursday evening.

"I've realized that I'm the closest most people will ever get to Ronald Reagan now. So I'm going to treat that with some respect," Reagan acknowledges.

Reagan unabashedly admits his awe at the naming of the ship after his revered father. "I'm really excited about this whole ship thing," he says.

Reagan, who was also on hand at the christening of the ship and has observed its slow progress to Saturdy's commissioning, observed that all the distinguished words, the music and the ruffles and flourishes seem to blow away in the breeze – with the real star of the show inevitably the great ship itself.

And beyond the ship, its crew outshines all – a crew whom the affable host has spent some time getting to know.

Most of that young and highly professional crew was barely out of infancy when President Reagan was in the White House. The ship's new skipper noted that he first enlisted in the service during the Reagan era.

Reagan Legacy

One of the lasting legacies from President Ronald Reagan is the unquestioned maritime superiority of the U.S. Navy.

During President Reagan's two terms as America's 40th president (1981-1989), he was a strong advocate of naval power, calling for a 15-carrier, 600-ship Navy.

He initiated five Nimitz-class carriers on his watch. His use of naval power was evident during three major military operations – Operation Urgent Fury (Grenada, 1983); Operation El Dorado Canyon (Libya, 1986); and Operation Praying Mantis (Iran, 1988).

On Friday, the media corps was given a tour of the ship – along with Nancy Reagan, who enjoyed her tour that day as well.

Hotels in Norfolk and all points in proximity were full, with one manager of an inn on Military Highway telling NewsMax that people were sleeping in their cars and napping in the lobby's chairs and sofas.

The big commissioning day began well before dawn for the security-conscious base. Satellite and microwave trucks were swept beginning as early as 2:30 a.m., with the army of media swarming at 8:30 a.m. Saturday at the Naval Station Norfolk Tour and Information Center located outside Gate 5.

From there they were shuttled to the pier where the ship was docked. No vehicles, with the exception of live TV trucks, were allowed on the base during the proceedings.

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