About 600 sailors and pilots from Naval Air Station Lemoore are serving aboard the aircraft carrier.
The date: October, 7th, 2001... 9/11 was still raw and stinging. The war planes of the U.S.S. Carl Vinson would be the first in America's carrier fleet to strike at Osama bin Laden and Al-Qaeda.
Fast forward to 2011... ironically the same ship is given the job of bin Laden's burial at sea. It's captain, Bruce Lindsey, told Action News he was serving on the Carl Vinson the day America struck back.
"The Arabian Gulf has not changed since then and so it was interesting for me to come back and take command of this great war ship."
He is prohibited from talking about Bin Laden's death or burial at sea but eagerly told us about his crew and the six and a half months it literally at sea.
"Our men and women who man these ships and these airplanes, that make it all work, their dedication hasn't wained since 9/11. We have fantastic patriots aboard this ship."
He is immensely proud of his crew and his cadre of fighter squadrons many from N.A.S. Lemoore. They are, he says, the best... who keep giving their best.
"They join for many reasons: education, to see the world and to serve their country. And they got to do all three of those. And I'm very happy to have led these fine young men and women."
Over the next few days N.A.S Lemoore will be welcoming home those who served aboard the U.S.S. Carl Vinson in 2011.
