2 | 6 | 2017
A weekly publication of Newport News Shipbuilding
The End of an Era: USS Enterprise Navy sailors on board USS Enterprise (CVN 65) walked off “Big E” for the last time, during the Decommissioning Ceremony at Newport News Shipbuilding on Friday, Feb. 3, marking the end of an era.
“I was standing right here, helping put this thing together,” he said. “I never thought I’d get to be part of something this great. It’s probably the best ship we’ve ever built. These guys are leaving behind something that is a legacy around the world.”
More than 400 guests including shipbuilders, Navy personnel and family witnessed the historic event held in the carrier’s hangar bay. For many shipbuilders who helped build Enterprise, it was an emotional and bittersweet sendoff as they said goodbye to a legend.
Construction Supervisor Jennifer Guthinger supported Enterprise during an Extended Dry-Docking Selected Restricted Availability in 2010 and was part of the team leading the inactivation at NNS.
Designer Luther Peacock remembered traveling across the James River Bridge to start his shipyard career in 1958 and, like other shipbuilders at the ceremony, had mixed emotions. As he watched Commanding Officer Captain Todd Beltz give final commands, Peacock remembered standing in the same hangar bay more than 50 years ago.
“I thought it was a very special ceremony,” said Guthinger. “A lot of people put their hearts and souls into this ship. There are no words to describe her. You have to be part of it—in the shipyards building them or on the water sailing them.” L.D. Joyner, production planner and scheduler, started his career in the shipyard’s Mold Loft in 1957. He and several... CONTINUED ON PG 3