CV-45

	USS Valley Forge (CV-45), an Essex-Class aircraft carrier, had her keel laid down on 7 September 1944. She was commissioned 3 November, 1946 and was decommissioned on 16 January 1970. She was subsequently sold for scrap, an unfitting end for such a valiant lady.

The "Happy Valley" was the only U.S. aircraft carrier in the Far East at the time of the North Korean invasion across the 38th parallel. An air attack launched from her on 3 July 1950 upon the North Korean air base at Pyongyang, the North Korean capitol, was the first air attack of the war. That attack dealt a crushing blow to the air base facilities, many Russian-built planes, both parked and airborne and nearby railroad yards. Other U.S. and British carriers joined the foray as soon as they could be brought to the scene. But, in those crucial early days of the war, it was the Happy Valley that bore the awesome challenge of keeping the massive numbers of communist infantry and armor from annihilating the outnumbered Allied ground forces that were in place at the war's beginning. This mission and the dilemmas that came with it, are central to the first portion of the novel.

Valley Forge was awarded eight battle stars for Korean War service and nine for Vietnam service. During her years of service, she also earned three Navy Unit Commendations.

Specifications
Displacement	36,380 tons
Length	888'
Beam (at water line)	93'
Width (extreme)	147' 6"
Draft	28' 7"
Flight Deck	862' X 108'
Top Speed	32.7 knots
Officers/Men	400/3,000 (approx.)
Aircraft	100 (approx.)

Pete Azzole's On-line Library

USS VALLEY FORGE (CV-45)

Specifications