Cheney hits the deck as Nimitz arrives on station - Amazing pictures

Vice President Dick Cheney is greeted by Rear Adm. Kevin Quinn, commander of John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group, as he exits an MH-53E Sea Dragon, from the "Blackhawks" of Helicopter Mine Countermeasure Squadron (HM) 15, aboard Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) Friday with Lea Ann McBride his Press spokesperson.

The French nuclear powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (R 91) arrived in the North Arabian Sea on March 16 and since then the two nuclear-powered aircraft carriers have been operating together in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). French Super-Etendards, Rafales and an E-2C Hawkeye conducted touch-and-go landings on board Stennis and there were daily staff exchanges.

Both ships are providing support to the International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) on the ground in Afghanistan as well as conducting bilateral exercises at sea and personnel exchanges between the strike group ships until the french carrier completed operations on April 16th. USS Nimitz (CVN 68) and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11 began conducting missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) from yesterday May 11.

Since arriving in the area on Feb. 19 during the past four months while at sea, John C. Stennis ship’s personnel have consumed 18,962 gallons of milk, 434,760 eggs, 17,040 pounds of flour, 18,599 pounds of ground beef, 36,155 pounds of chicken and 159,960 cups of cereal.