Civilian leaders ride the Ike

by Carmen L. Gleason
American Forces Press Service

[ USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER, April 25] Members of the Defense Department's Joint Civilian Orientation Conference today walked, or catapulted, away from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower with a greater appreciation for what sailors are doing for their nation.

Forty-five civic and business leaders who are traveling in the Central Command's area of responsibility were introduced to sailors manning the nuclearpowered, Nimitz-class aircraft carrier the day before it headed back to its home port in Norfolk, Va., following a six-month deployment to the Arabian Sea. 

Joint Civilian Orientation Conference participants arrived to the carrier via Navy C-2A "Greyhound" cargo plane where they were "recovered" by one of four arrestor wires on the 1,092-foot deck. Each of the three cargo planes came to a jolting stop on the ship's deck resulting in applause and cheers from its passengers.