USS Independence (CVA-62) 1971-72 Cruise Sweatshirt

In 1971-72, USS Independence (CVA-62) returned to the Western Pacific as the Vietnam War entered its final phase. Operation LINEBACKER, the massive air campaign to pressure North Vietnam to the peace table, relied heavily on carrier aviation. Independence's air wing flew around the clock in support of operations that would ultimately lead to the Paris Peace Accords — making this one of the most operationally intensive deployments of her career.