OI Division, from left, Marty Martinez, Pat Joy, Brian Dean, Dan Persse, Jim Limric, David Black, Jim Mauhler, and Mike Zimmerman.



After the ceremony, OI Division took one last tour of the ship. It was filled with many memories and a some final poses and  smiles on the bridge.

It was hard to describe how one felt. This was it. She was going to be hauled back to the fleet in Philadelphia and it was sad. The Yorktown we remembered was full of life, high spirits and great adventures to come.

She was quiet this day and the vacant spaces were indeed filled with just our memories of the past. I am sure each of us were thinking our own private thoughts of how another chapter of our own lives was closing this day.

One thing is for sure, we will never forget the Yorktown and the crews that served her well during a prestigious and honorable career.