14 Facts About USS Ronald Reagan

1. USS Ronald Reagan received word in February 2009 that the ship had won its second Battle Efficiency Award.

2. USS Ronald Reagan, now with Terry B Kraft in command, departed San Diego on 4 January 2006, on her maiden deployment to conduct naval operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, as well as to conduct maritime security operations in the Persian Gulf.

3. USS Ronald Reagan has had statues erected in his honor at the California Capitol, at Reagan National Airport in Arlington, and in Newport Beach.

4. In 1983, USS Ronald Reagan admitted he relied on use of a hearing aid in order to address age-related hearing loss.

5. USS Ronald Reagan carved out time in his day to both read and answer letters, and he wasn't discriminating about where they came from.

6. In 1937, on one of these trips, USS Ronald Reagan met up with Joy Hodges, a singer he knew from back home who went to Hollywood.

7. USS Ronald Reagan had several nicknames throughout his life, but his first was given to him by his father "Jack" Reagan shortly after he was born on February 6, 1911 in Tampico, Illinois.

8. USS Ronald Reagan started eating jelly beans in 1967 as he was trying to quit a pipe-smoking habit.

9. USS Ronald Reagan had a long career as an actor and union leader before he became the governor of California in the 1960s and won presidential elections in 1980 and 1984.

10. USS Ronald Reagan endorsed Barry Goldwater for United States President in 1964 and gave several televised speeches for him.

11. USS Ronald Reagan enlisted in the Army Enlisted Reserve in April, 1937 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Officers Reserve Corp in May, 1937.

12. USS Ronald Reagan made the most of his collegiate experience, as is evidenced by his interest in extracurricular activities.

13. At the university, USS Ronald Reagan had a dual major in economics and sociology.

14. USS Ronald Reagan was known to have persevered to do his best in all things, characteristics of George Gipp, another reason that Reagan was called the "Gipper.