From left to right Ty Taborn, Ken Banks, Engineering Dean Eric Shepard, Neil Watkins MD, and Ron Glover

In addition to a guided tour of one of the largest warships in the world, Taborn and his group observed the dedication of 6,000 service men and women on the carrier (named after Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower, a five-star general in the US Army and President of the United States from 1953 until 1961), witnessed plane launching and recovery on the deck, and dined with IKE sailors.
 
Some amazing facts they found out were: the average age of IKE sailors is nineteen; IKE has a 4.5-acre flight deck to support as many as 100 embarked aircraft and displaces 95,000 tons fully loaded, and the ship’s two nuclear reactors can furnish power to propel the ship in excess of 30 knots, and can provide energy for more than eighteen years of operation without refueling. An aircraft carrier usually lasts 50 years, but it has been projected the USS Eisenhower will outlive that expectation because of the diligence of the crew. 

Reflecting on some of the best moments of his visit, Taborn says, “It was definitely the young men and women aboard,” he affirms. “IKE sailors spoke of pride in their jobs and dedication to doing the best they can. The sailors chose the US Navy for many different reasons.  Some wanted the opportunity to gain a broad set of skills and see the world, and others wanted to gain work experience while they completed their degrees,” he says.

Taborn and his guests traveled to and from the carrier aboard a C-2A Greyhound Carrier-Onboard Delivery Plane (COD), an aircraft which lands just as a jet fighter does.  During landing, the plane comes to a complete stop in under two seconds from over 140 miles per hour, the same time it takes for the plane to roar up to a speed of over 120 miles per hour.

The experience exceeds any rollercoaster ride and left everyone spellbound. Ken Banks, one of Taborn’s guests, is an avid thrill seeker and he commented, “I definitely would like to do that again because it was truly incredible.”  Taborn and guests were honored with  honorary membership in the exclusive Tailhook Association for taking part in the unique landing and takeoff.

“Career Communications Group extends thanks to Vice Admiral Melvin Williams for making this visit possible," Taborn says. "Our thanks also  go to Commanding Officer Captain Dee Mewbourne, Commander Ted Williams, Command Master Chief Bryan Exum, Rear Admiral Mark Fox, Rear Admiral Kurt Tidd, the office of Public Affairs, and the service men and women, who went out of their way to make it an incredible visit.”