The USS Independence is a 56,300-ton Forrestal class aircraft carrier built by the United States Navy in the 1950s. The CVA-62 was built at the New York Naval Shipyard in Brooklyn, New York, and commissioned on Jan. 10, 1959, as the fourth and last ship in the class. About the ship:

• Measures 1,069 feet in length; with a 270-foot wide flight deck that held approximately 85 planes and 2,700 crewmembers.• Fifth United States Navy ship to bear the name "Independence."• From August 1960 to February 1961, the Independence made the first deployment to the Mediterranean Sea for duty with the Sixth Fleet.• In October-November 1962 participated in the Cuban Missile Crisis operations in the Caribbean.• In 1965 became the first Atlantic Fleet aircraft carrier to conduct Vietnam War combat operations.• Stationed in the Mediterranean during the Yom Kippur War between Israel and several Arab nations.• From 1974 to 1984, Independence took part in deployments in the Indian Ocean; as well as in combat operations to liberate the island of Grenada.• In 1985, following final Mediterranean cruise, the Independence entered the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard for extensive reconstruction.• Deployed to the Western Pacific in July 1990 and continued on to the Persian Gulf for support during Operation "Desert Shield."• Decommissioned on Sept. 30, 1998, serving a total of 39 years, nine months and 20 days of active service.• Was moved into "mothballs" in the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington, where the ship was stripped to help support active carriers in the Kitty Hawk class.• In April 2004, the U.S. Navy identified Independence, because of the poor condition, as one of 24 decommissioned ships available to be sunk for artificial reefs.• In December 2010, the Navy decided to scrap the ship instead. It is earmarked for dismantling in 2015.SOURCE: The Department of the Navy