USS Saratoga (CVA-60) 1961-62 Cruise Sweatshirt

The USS Saratoga (CVA-60) was a Forrestal-class attack carrier commissioned on April 14, 1956, and homeported at Naval Station Mayport, Florida. Named for the 1777 Battles of Saratoga that secured French alliance and American independence. The 1961-62 Mediterranean deployment coincided with one of the most dangerous periods of the Cold War, including the construction of the Berlin Wall in August 1961. The Sixth Fleet's carrier presence in the Mediterranean was a critical signal of American resolve during a period when the balance of global power seemed to hang in the balance. This sweatshirt honors the crew of USS Saratoga who served during the tense 1961-62 cruise.