The crew of the aircraft carrier USS America (CV 66) marches down the gangway for the last time as their ship is decommissioned in ceremonies at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Va., on August 9, 1996. America returned from its last deployment Feb. 24, where its squadrons flew 250 combat missions over the skies of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Nation's Flagship and crew also distinguished themselves during Operation Desert Storm. America is the only carrier to have launched strikes against Iraqi targets from both sides of the Arabian Peninsula: Red Sea and Persian Gulf. The aircraft carrier was commissioned Jan. 23, 1965, at Norfolk Naval Shipyard. During its second deployment, America assisted with the rescue and medical treatment of crew members from the technical research ship USS Liberty (AGTR 5) after it was attacked by Israeli torpedo boats and jet fighters, June 8, 1967. America also completed three deployments to "Station"off the coast of Vietnam, where it spent as many as 112 consecutive days on station.