The fourth Nimitz-class carrier is named for the 26th President, former Secretary of the Navy, and leader of the "Rough Riders". The carrier's keel was laid on 31 October 1981, just eight months after similarly named Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarine (SSBN) 600 was decommissioned. The carrier was commissioned 25 October 1986 at NAS Norfolk, VA which is her home-port. She just recently deployed in April 1999, and is currently participating in the Kosovo Crisis from the Adriatic Sea.

This patch comes from CVN-71, the USS Theodore Roosevelt. When you pass through the Suez Canal from the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea, you "Do the Ditch". Most carriers at one time get through there during there cruise.

This patch comes from CVN-71, the USS Theodore Roosevelt, and Airwing 1. It is the only "OFFICIAL" Operation Enduring Freedom Cruise patch authorized by the ship.

CVW-8 is home-ported at NAS Oceana, VA and operate from the flight deck of the "T.R." They are currently on deployment to the Mediterranean and Persian Gulf theaters and participated from the Adriatic Sea in the Kosovo operations.

This is the round, orange version of the new VFA-31 Weapons Platform F/A-18F patch created in 2005 depicting their transition to the Hornet in Fall 2006. The "Tomcatters" are the second oldest Navy fighter squadron dating back to VF-1B on July 1935. They flew the F-4J Phantoms until transitioning to the F-14D Tomcat in January 1992. They pioneered the use of the TARPS pod for reconnaissance missions and participated in the Lebanon and Syrian conflicts, the latter of which they were engaged by hostile AAA and missile fire.

This is the round, black version of the new VFA-31 Weapons Platform F/A-18F patch created in 2005 depicting their transition to the Hornet in Fall 2006. The "Tomcatters" are the second oldest Navy fighter squadron dating back to VF-1B on July 1935. They flew the F-4J Phantoms until transitioning to the F-14D Tomcat in January 1992. They pioneered the use of the TARPS pod for reconnaissance missions and participated in the Lebanon and Syrian conflicts, the latter of which they were engaged by hostile AAA and missile fire.

This is the rectangular, orange version of the new VFA-31 Weapons Platform F/A-18F patch created in 2005 depicting their transition to the Hornet in Fall 2006. The "Tomcatters" are the second oldest Navy fighter squadron dating back to VF-1B on July 1935. They flew the F-4J Phantoms until transitioning to the F-14D Tomcat in January 1992. They pioneered the use of the TARPS pod for reconnaissance missions and participated in the Lebanon and Syrian conflicts, the latter of which they were engaged by hostile AAA and missile fire.

This is the desert version of the nametag for the pilots for VFA-15. It goes with their desert squadron patch.

Established in August 1968 as an A-7 Corsair squadron, the Valions of VFA-15 transitioned to the F/A-18A Hornet in October 1986. They participated in Operation Desert Storm, then received their first F/A-18C Lot 14 night attack aircraft which they have currently transitioned to. This gives them the rule of the night. They are currently part of CVW-8.

Established in August 1968 as an A-7 Corsair squadron, the Valions of VFA-15 transitioned to the F/A-18A Hornet in October 1986. They participated in Operation Desert Storm, then received their first F/A-18C Lot 14 night attack aircraft which they have currently transitioned to. This gives them the rule of the night. They are currently part of CVW-8 and this is the desert version of their current squadron patch.

Established in August 1968 as an A-7 Corsair squadron, the Valions of VFA-15 transitioned to the F/A-18A Hornet in October 1986. They participated in Operation Desert Storm, then received their first F/A-18C Lot 14 night attack aircraft which they have currently transitioned to. This gives them the rule of the night. They are currently part of CVW-8 and this is the blue version of their current aircraft bullet (round) patch.

Established in August 1968 as an A-7 Corsair squadron, the Valions of VFA-15 transitioned to the F/A-18A Hornet in October 1986. They participated in Operation Desert Storm, then received their first F/A-18C Lot 14 night attack aircraft which they have currently transitioned to. This gives them the rule of the night. They are currently part of CVW-8 and this is the desert version of their current aircraft bullet (round) patch.

Established in August 1968 as an A-7 Corsair squadron, the Valions of VFA-15 transitioned to the F/A-18A Hornet in October 1986. They participated in Operation Desert Storm, then received their first F/A-18C Lot 14 night attack aircraft which they have currently transitioned to. This gives them the rule of the night. They are currently part of CVW-8 and this is the award patch created for them when they won the US Navy's 2001 Battle 'E'.

This is the color version of the nametag for the pilots for VFA-87. It goes with the black squadron patch.

This is the desert version of the nametag for the pilots for VFA-87. It goes with their desert squadron patch.

This is the Operation Iraqi Freedom Cruise patch from 2003 for the VFA-87 "Golden Warriors". They fly the F/A-18 Hornet out of NAS Oceana, VA, but during the war, were aboard the USS Roosevelt (CVN-71) as an integral member of CVW-8.

This is the Estocin "award" patch created for VFA-87 when they won the Battle 'E' in 2005.

Based out of NAS Oceana, VA flying the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Hornet, the Golden Warriors of VFA-87 fly as part of Airwing 8 onboard the USS Enterprise (CVN-65). They were established in Feb 1968 and took the Hornet in May 1986. They participated in Desert Storm.

Based out of NAS Oceana, VA flying the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Hornet, the Golden Warriors of VFA-87 fly as part of Airwing 8 onboard the USS Enterprise (CVN-65). They were established in Feb 1968 and took the Hornet in May 1986. They participated in Desert Storm. This is the color version of the aircraft 'bullet' patch worn on the right shoulder of the flight suit.

Based out of NAS Oceana, VA flying the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Hornet, the Golden Warriors of VFA-87 fly as part of Airwing 8 onboard the USS Enterprise (CVN-65). They were established in Feb 1968 and took the Hornet in May 1986. They participated in Desert Storm. This is the color version of the plane captain 'bullet' patch worn on the right shoulder of the flight suit.

Based out of NAS Oceana, VA flying the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Hornet, the Golden Warriors of VFA-87 fly as part of Airwing 8 onboard the USS Enterprise (CVN-65). They were established in Feb 1968 and took the Hornet in May 1986. They participated in Desert Storm. This is the small desert version of the squadron patch.

Based out of NAS Oceana, VA flying the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Hornet, the Golden Warriors of VFA-87 fly as part of Airwing 8 onboard the USS Enterprise (CVN-65). They were established in Feb 1968 and took the Hornet in May 1986. They participated in Desert Storm. This is the desert version of the aircraft 'bullet' patch.