Life Aboard The USS George H.W. Bush (Photo Gallery)

The guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) pulls alongside the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush as an MH-60S Sea Hawk takes off from the flight deck on Aug. 13. (Photo: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Joshua Card)

An Inside Look At Life Aboard The USS George H.W. Bush In 19 Photos -- Daily Signal

Aircraft from the USS George H.W. Bush have facilitated airstrikes on the Islamic State militants in Iraq since Aug. 8. Their goal is to protect American citizens and personnel in Iraq, and help the Yezidi religious minority hiding with little food and water in the Sinjar Mountains. The ship’s Facebook page released an update and personal thanks for support:

As you have seen on the news, Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW 8) strike fighters have struck ISIL targets near Erbil to help defend the city where U.S. personnel are assisting the Iraqi government. We have also conducted strikes to defend Yazidi civilians being indiscriminately attacked by ISIL near Sinjar, Iraq.

The professional and dedicated team that makes up Carrier Strike Group 2 (CSG 2) includes USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), CVW 8, CSG 2 staff, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON 22) staff, USS Philippine Sea, USS Truxtun, USS Roosevelt, USS Arleigh Burke and USS O’Kane and we stand ready to support humanitarian assistance operations that are helping those in need. Your Sailors continue to perform in an exemplary manner and we remain ready to perform any mission when called.

This team is making a difference.

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My Comment: Never a dull moment I am sure.

Navy Secretary Designates Mayport As Carrier Base

Former U.S. president George H.W. Bush (2nd L) waves to the crowd after his children, Doro Bush Koch (L) and current U.S. President George W. Bush (R), and Northrup Grumman Newport News President Mike Petters (2nd R) christened the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush in Newport News, Virginia, October 7, 2006. (Xinhua Photo/Reuters)

From Forbes/AP:

Mayport Naval Station will become the home of a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the Navy announced Wednesday.

The carrier will bring 3,190 military jobs and pump about $500 million into the north Florida economy in salaries and spending.

Navy Secretary Donald Winter signed the official documents Wednesday, so work can begin on preparing the base at the mouth of the St. Johns River for a carrier, expected as early as 2014.

"For more than 60 years, the Navy has seen the rich strategic benefits in home-porting aircraft carriers at Mayport. Secretary Winter's action underscores our strategic importance and the critical nature of having more than one aircraft carrier homeport on the East Coast," said U.S. Mel Martinez, the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower.

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