The USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier arrived in Crete on June 21, giving its 5,500 crew members a Greek island break after seven months at sea and over 2,000 missions launched against Islamic State targets in Iraq and Syria.
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The U.S. Navy extended the Truman's deployment by one month to "keep the pressure" on Islamic State until the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier arrived to take over, Vice Admiral James Foggo, commander of the Navy's Sixth Fleet, said.
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The 1,096-feet (334-metre) Truman, as long as the Empire State Building in New York City is tall and with a 4.5-acre (1.8 hectare) flight deck, is due back home in Norfolk, Virginia in mid-July.
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Meanwhile for those who serve on the ship, mail from friends and family - flown in especially - is a welcome treat. Many spend days on end "below the water line," working less glamorous, but equally vital, jobs than the fighter pilots.
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Those sailors keep the ship's two nuclear reactors running smoothly and prepare munitions. Others cook more than 18,000 meals a day, do laundry, deliver mail and deal with trash for the floating city.
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Slideshow
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US Navy sailors rest.
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A US Navy sailor works out in a hangar.
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A sailor walks by an F/A-18 fighter jet in a hangar.
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US Navy sailors sort mail in a hangar.
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A US Navy sailor works in the laundry room.
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A US Navy sailor visits the shop on board the aircraft carrier.
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A US navy sailor has his picture taken in a studio on the aircraft carrier.
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A portrait of U.S. President Barack Obama is seen in the barber shop on board the aircraft carrier.
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US Navy sailors gets a hair cut.
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A pilot waits in his squadron room.
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Pilots with the VAW-117 “Wallbangers” Airborne Command squadron wait in their room.
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Hats hang on an animal bust.
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US Navy sailors wait in line for Starbucks coffee on board of the aircraft carrier.
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US Navy sailors use phones.
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A religious book.
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A US Navy sailor queues for food.
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A US Navy officer sits in the medical clinic on board the aircraft carrier.
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A pilot sits in the squadron room.
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A sign is seen on board the aircraft carrier.
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Navy F/A-18 pilot Commander Higgins from the VFA-83 Squadron, also known as the "Rampagers", gets ready before a mission.
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Navy F/A-18 pilot Commander Higgins climbs in to his plane before a mission.
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F/A-18 fighter jets fly over the aircraft carrier.
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A US Navy helicopter transfers equipment onto the aircraft carrier.
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A sailor uses binoculars at sundown.
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A US Navy E-2C Hawkeye lands on the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier in the eastern Mediterranean Sea June 13, 2016.
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Military personnel walk on the aircraft carrier.
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US Navy sailors stand on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier.
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A US Navy F/A-18 fighter jet takes off from the aircraft carrier.