USS Independence (CVA-62) 1965 Cruise Varsity Jacket

USS Independence was the fourth and final Forrestal-class supercarrier, commissioned in 1959. For most of her career she served with the Atlantic Fleet, making repeated Mediterranean deployments with the Sixth Fleet before shifting to the Pacific late in her service. She was redesignated CV-62 in 1975 and served until her decommissioning in 1998.

This heavyweight letterman jacket commemorates Independence's 1965 Vietnam combat deployment — the first Atlantic Fleet carrier sent to the South China Sea, earning the Navy Unit Commendation for operations with Carrier Air Wing 7.