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Arizona / West

Old carrier Oriskany to become a reef off Fla.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 03.17.2006
BEAUMONT, Texas — An aircraft carrier that saw action in Korea and Vietnam began its final voyage Thursday, headed for burial at sea.
The former USS Oriskany left the Beaumont Ready Reserve Fleet for Pensacola, Fla., where it will become the world's largest man-made reef, the Beaumont Enterprise reported in its online edition Thursday.
The 888-foot-long ship was home to U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., when he served in Vietnam.
The ship's final resting place will be 24 miles off Pensacola and 212 feet underwater.
A tugboat is expected to haul the 32,000-ton carrier to Florida in about four or five days, Navy authorities said. It is to be sunk May 17 if weather permits.
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