USS Essex (CVS-9) 1962 S. ATLANTIC/CARIBBEAN Sweatshirt

In October 1962, the world came closer to nuclear war than at any point before or since — and USS Essex was at the center of it. When President Kennedy ordered a naval quarantine of Cuba after Soviet missiles were discovered on the island, Essex served as the flagship of Task Group Alpha, operating in the Atlantic approaches to the Caribbean. Essex aircraft tracked Soviet submarines throughout the crisis — including submarines whose crews nearly launched nuclear weapons before being brought to the surface. For thirteen days, the crew of CVS-9 stood at the hinge point of history. This is what it meant to serve aboard USS Essex in 1962.

• 50% cotton, 50% polyester
• Pre-shrunk fabric
• Air-jet spun yarn for a softer feel
• Double-needle stitching throughout