Aircraft Carrier Named After Former President Bush

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, December 11, 2002

Aircraft Carrier Named After Former President Bush

The U.S. Navy's newest aircraft carrier was named after former President George Bush on Monday in a Pentagon ceremony attended by Bush, father of the current American president.

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The U.S. Navy's newest aircraft carrier was named after former President George Bush on Monday in a Pentagon ceremony attended by Bush, father of the current American president.

The service's 10th Nimitz-class carrier, to carry the name USS George H.W. Bush, is under construction at Newport News in Virginia and scheduled to join the fleet in 2009. At 97,000 tons and 1,092 feet long, the Nimitz ships are largest warships afloat.

The 78-year-old elder Bush, a Massachusetts native, joined the Navy on his 18th birthday in 1942 as a seaman. He became the youngest pilot in the Navy at the time when he received his officer's commission and was designated a Naval Aviator before his 19th birthday.

At one point in Pacific action during the Second World War, Bush was shot down and parachuted from his Avenger Torpedo Bomber and was rescued by a U.S. submarine. During his tenure in the service he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross and three Air Medals.

The father began his career in national politics as a congressman. He also served as director of the Central Intelligence Agency and later as vice president before becoming president for a four-year term in 1989.

Source: Agencies

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