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Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient Carl Vinson
CARL VINSON
Awarded by
President Lyndon B. Johnson
September 14, 1964
Master legislative captain, helmsman, and navigator, his fixed star has always been the national interest.
USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70)
USS CARL VINSON is the third NIMITZ -class aircraft carrier
and the first ship in the Navy named after Congressman Carl Vinson. - Congressman Carl Vinson became the first person in the history of the United States to witness a launching in his honor.
- In February, 1997, USS CARL VINSON was the platform for the last carrier launches and recoveries of the A-6E Intruder.
General Characteristics:
Keel Laid: October 11, 1975
Launched: March 15, 1980
Commissioned: March 13, 1982
Builder: Newport News Shipbuilding Co., Newport News, Va.
Propulsion system: two nuclear reactors
Main Engines: four
Propellers: four
Blades on each Propeller: five
Aircraft elevators: four
Catapults: four
Arresting gear cables: four
Length, overall: 1,092 feet (332,85 meters)
Flight Deck Width: 252 feet (76,8 meters)
Area of flight deck: about 4,5 acres
Beam: 134 feet (40,84 meters)
Draft: 37,7 feet (11.3 meters)
Displacement: approx. 97,000 tons full load
Speed: 30+ knots
Planes: approx. 85
Crew: Ship: 3,200
Crew: Air Wing: 2,480
Armament: three Mk 29 NATO Sea Sparrow launchers, three 20mm Phalanx CIWS Mk 15
Homeport: Bremerton, Wash.
U.S.S. Carl Vinson Home Page
U.S.S. Carl Vinson ship history
About the Carrier’s Name, about Congressman Carl Vinson:
Carl Vinson's service in the House of Representatives exceeds that of anyone elected to the Congress of the United States since it first convened in 1798. During his unparalleled tenure of fifty plus years, he also completed a record breaking twenty-nine years as Chairman of the House Naval Affairs and Armed Services Committee. In that position, Congressman Vinson forged and moved through Congress the landmark Vinson-Trammel Act which provided authority for the eventual construction of ninety-two major warships, the birth of the two ocean Navy. From Capitol Hill, he also guided the establishment of a separate air academy and the launching of the Navy's first nuclear powered submarine.
Stating that, "The most expensive thing in the world is a cheap Army and Navy," Congressman Vinson became a powerful force in the growth of America's land, sea and air forces. His skilled legislative abilities assisted in the creation of the Army Air Corps, the improvement of aviator and aircraft procurement, and the pre-World War II expansion of the Navy's air arm.
Few men in American history have made so profound an impact on the nation's defenses. The crew of this aircraft carrier is proud to serve on the ship that bears his name and proud to honor his outstanding service to the United States of America.
Carl Vinson was born in Baldwin County, Georgia, on November 18, 1883. The son of Edward S. and Annie Morris Vinson, he attended Georgia Military College in Milledgeville and was graduated from the Mercer University Law School with an LL.B. degree in 1902, beginning practice on June 5 of that year.
Rep. Vinson's appointment as Baldwin County Prosecutor in 1904 began a career of more than 60 years of service in public office. In 1909, he was elected to the Georgia General Assembly, serving there until 1912. He returned to Baldwin County in late 1912 to serve as County Court Judge.
On November 3, 1914, he was elected to the United States House of Representatives to fill an unexpired term. He served in Congress for more than 50 years - the longest service of any House Member in the history of the United States. Titles such as "Father of our modern Navy" and "Aviation's Elder Statesman" barely describe his contributions, for few others have done so much for the defense of the country.
Rep. Vinson was among the nation's leading advocates of naval power. More than any other person, he was responsible for the buildup of the US Navy and its air power before World War II. Admiral Nimitz, the Pacific Fleet Commander, said of him, "I do not know where this country would have been after December 7, 1941, if it had not had the ships and the know-how to build more ships fast, for which one Vinson Bill after another was responsible."
Carl Vinson's philosophy concerning military preparedness throughout his career is just as valid today. "The most expensive thing in the world is a cheap Army and Navy", he said. "History has shown that weakness invites attacks." He supported the policy that the naval strike forces, including ships such as CARL VINSON should be nuclear-powered.
Rep. Vinson had served a total of 50 years and one months in the House of Representatives when he retired in January 1965. He returned to Milledgeville where he resided until his death on June 1, 1981.
Visit the Carl Vinson Institute of Government
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Medal History
