The late Mark L. Evans passed away in October 2021 after a courageous 8-year battle with cancer, with his wife Tracey by his side. He retired from the Department of the Navy in December 2020 after a 23-year tenure as a naval historian, after receiving the Navy's Superior Civilian Service Award, the highest honorary award given to a civilian employee. Mark contributed articles to Naval History Magazine, Naval Aviation News and authored a number of books including Great World War II Battles in the Arctic. Mark's final book, the USS Enterprise (CVN-65) was his last work and labor of love. Mark had the deepest respect and admiration for those who served our country. In honor of Mark and his fellow Veterans, proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to the Veterans Organization Operation Second Chance (OSC).

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Preface

[...] Are Defending Our Homeland

[...] the Fight to the Enemy

[...] of the Seas

4.Offensive Action

5.Surprise Attack

6.A Full Retaliatory Response

7.A Smell of Burning Hung in the Air

[...] Will Test the Ability of These New Ships

[...] Order of Golden Shellbacks

[...] Slash at the Viet Cong

11.A New Era

[...] a Death Grip

13.Smoking Rubble

[...] Up! Pull Up!

15.Bandits

16.Untold Horror Exists Behind the Door

[...] Act of Piracy

18.Nuclear Options

19.Annihilate and Crush

[...] Dirtiest Type of Fighting

[...] Guns Returning Enemy Fire

[...] Confidence of the MiG Pilots

[...] Roaring Across the Deck

24.A Quick and Telling Blow

[...] Confidence

[...] Advanced Warning

[...] Must Punish the Enemy

[...] Killers

[...] Generosity to Treachery

30.Anytime Baby

31.Rapidly Deteriorated

32.Extraordinary Reception

[...] All Seas and Oceans

[...] Lies Under the Arabian Gulf

[...] Line of Death

[...] Stark Has Been Hit

37.Vietnam Was Hovering Over Everyone's Shoulder

38.Incredible Bravery

[...]'ve Shed Enough Blood

[...] We Are Really Here

[...] Make Saddam Pay

[...] His Undertakings

[...] You Least Expect It

[...]'re Not Going Home

[...] to the Death

46.A Whole New Attack

[...] Never Defeated US

48.A Conflict of a Different Kind

[...] Are a Nation at War

[...] Character of America

Appendix 1: Commanding Officers

Appendix 2: Principal Deployments

Chapter Notes

Bibliography

Index