Page 33 - Senior Link Magazine Winter 2023 - Online Magazine

HISTORY OF SLATON

invading Kuwait) began, and
back to the Persian Gulf we went.
After we got to the Arabian Gulf,
Iraq recalled its ground forces,
but things started to heat up back
in the Adriatic Sea, so we went
back there again. Operation Sharp
Guard and Deny Flight stayed on
station until the end of November
1994.
When I returned to Norfolk, the
crew was ready to get off the ship.
Shortly after, we went on a shakedown zone} and Operation Provide Promise I had wanted adventure, and I got
cruise, which meant more testing, and (a humanitarian relief operation) it! Working on the flight deck of the
we brought on the air wing for the first both off the coast of Bosnia. Then, GW was adventurous and dangerous,
time. I was on the flight deck the first in September, we embarked to the exactly what I was looking for at the
time an aircraft landed and launched on Persian Gulf for Operation Southern time. My departure for end-of-duty was
the George Washington. Watch because of Saddam Hussein’s announced in March 1995.
aggressive actions.
After multiple small deployments Not a day goes by that I don’t think
called work-ups, we departed on our Soon after, we returned to the Adriatic of that adventure. This year on
first major deployment in May 1994. for Operation Sharp Guard (to enforce October 21, 2023, I will be attending a
After getting to participate in the 50th the UN's arms embargo and economic Plank Owners’ reunion on the George
anniversary of D-DAY off Omaha sanctions). As soon as we got on station Washington. I am looking forward to
Beach, the George Washington was in the Adriatic, Iraq began mobilizing seeing her and my old shipmates—and
deployed to Operation Deny Flight (a troops. On October 8, 1994, Operation I am wondering if my arrival will be
NATO operation enforcing a UN no-fly Vigilant Warrior (to deter Iraq from announced like the captain.

Lubbock Senior Link 33