(LARGE) RARE because it is an ORIGINAL, AUTHENTIC cruise-patch from the US NAVY'S USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN-72) / Carrier Air Wing FOURTEEN (CVW-14) Combat Deployment.  In December 2001, CVW-14 participated in Operation Northern Edge off the coast of southern Alaska, honing their skills in final preparations for the 2002–2003 deployment. CVW-14 deployed aboard USS Abraham Lincoln again on 22 July 2002, supporting both on Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq. This marked the first carrier deployment for the multi-mission F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet. In the first 17 days of Operation Iraqi Freedom, CVW-14 aircraft dropped more than 1.3 million pounds of ordnance in support of the war. Prior to returning home, President George W. Bush made his historic landing on the deck of Abraham Lincoln in a S-3 piloted by CVW-14's own VS-35 Blue Wolves. This marked the first time a sitting president landed on a carrier in a fixed-wing aircraft and the first time a United States Navy aircraft radio callsign was changed to Navy One. CVW-14 returned home 6 May 2003 after nearly 10 months on deployment, the longest for a carrier in three decades.

This patch has "no" backing, a "merrowed dark green" border, has a "light khaki twill" background, does not have velcro on the back, no sew holes, and shows the dimensions in the photos...the ruler on the right is 6".

This is from THE BEST NAVAL AVIATION PATCH COLLECTION I've ever seen, and comes from a retired US NAVY CAPTAIN's collection I just acquired, and hope to find this gem a good home.  

This is an ORIGINAL ONE-OF only, so grab it while you can. 

This is an AUTHENTIC patch obtained by the officer (obviously, an AVID patch collector) during his many years of service.   

VA, A-6, A6, A-6E, A6E, A-6F, A6F, Intruder, Attack, ATKRON, A7, A-7, Corsair, 

VMA, USMC, US Marine Corps, VMAT, VMA(AW),

VAQ, EA6, EA6B, EA-6B, Prowler, Electronic Attack, EA18, EA18G, EA-18, EA-18G, Growler, VMAQ, 

VAW, E2, E-2, E-2C, E-2D, Hawkeye, 

VF, F14, F-14, Tomcat, 

VFA, F18, F-18, Hornet, Super Hornet, Attack, Fighter, Strike Fighter, Fighter/Attack, 

VP, P3, P-3, Orion, P8, P-8, Poseidon, Patrol, 

VR, VRC, VQ, VS, VT, VX, 

USN, US Navy, United States Navy, carrier, Air Wing, AIRWING, CVW, CV, CVN, WESTPAC, MED Cruise, Mediterranean, Western Pacific, IO, Indian Ocean, Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Suez Canal, Gulf of Arabia, Attack, Fighter, Electronic Attack, Strike-Fighter, VAW, Early Warning, Cruise, Deployment, Squadron, Patch, collectible, Grumman, Northrup-Grumman, McDonnell Douglas

Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, OIF, Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, OEF, Operation SOUTHERN WATCH, OSW, Operation NORTHERN WATCH, ONW, Desert Fox, Desert Shield, Desert Storm, 9-11-01, Indian Ocean, I.O., B-52, B52, Stratofortress, Bomber, B1, B-1, B1B, B-1B, Lancer, B2, B-2, Spirit, Stealth, F15, F-15, F15C, F-15C, F15E, F-15E, Eagle, Strike Eagle, F16, F-16, Fighting Falcon, TFS, TFW, FS, SAC, TAC, 

DRS, TRAM, SWIP, AIMD, McClusky, Battle 'E', Safety 'S', 

Shipped with USPS First Class (tracking).  

Just know that "reasonable" offers can be made (and considered), but 100% of these funds (after Ebay fees) go to the assistance of the retired friend, as well as a particular Knights Templar in Georgia that I support.