30 September 2022 USS Ramage Chief Selected for George Sirian Award The Surface Navy Association (SNA) presented the 2022 Master Gunner George Sirian Meritorious Service Award to Chief Gas Turbine Systems Technician (Mechanical) Adam Yenny, during a ceremony aboard USS Constitution, Sept. 30, 2022.The award honors George Sirian, a 19th century “Old Ironsides”...
30 September 2022 USS Mason Holds Change of Command Cmdr. Justin B. Smith succeeded Cmdr. Stephen M. Valerio, as USS Mason (DDG 87) commanding officer during a Naval Station Mayport, ceremony Sept. 26.A native of Buffalo, New York and raised in Barquisimeto, Venezuela, Valerio assumed command of Mason in April 2021, and will go on to serve as...
23 September 2022 USS Hué City Decommissioned After 31 Years of Service With plankowners, former crew members, and veterans of the Battle of Hué in attendance, the crew of USS Hué City (CG 66) decommissioned their ship at a Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia ceremony on Sept. 23.The event comes just nine days after the ship’s 31st commissioning anniversary. Hundreds...
22 September 2022 USS Anzio Decommissioned After 30 Years of Service With plankowners, former crew members, and families of the Battle of Anzio veterans looking on, USS Anzio (CG 68) crew decommissioned their ship at a Naval Station Norfolk ceremony Sept. 22. Retired Capt. H. Wyman Howard, Jr., Anzio’s first commanding officer, fondly remembered how the ship was...
21 September 2022 USS Bataan Celebrates 25th Birthday The crew of USS Bataan (LHD 5) celebrated the ship’s 25th birthday during a ceremony onboard the ship at Naval Station Norfolk, Sept. 20. More than 50 original plank owners and maiden voyagers attended the ceremony in which the ship’s second command master chief, retired Force Master Chief Bob...
14 September 2022 Buddhist Pennant Flies aboard Navy Ship for First Time The Buddhist pennant made its first appearance on an underway ship when the blue and white banner was spotted Sept. 11, aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul (DDG 74). The newest official U.S. Navy pennant flew in observance of the Buddhist Dharma service held aboard McFaul and led by Navy...
08 August 2022 Namesake’s Great-Great-Grandnephew Baptized Aboard USS Laboon Continuing a time-honored tradition aboard USS Laboon (DDG 58), a bell baptism service was celebrated Aug. 5 on the ship’s foc'sle for the great-great- grandnephew of the ship’s namesake, Capt. John Francis Laboon. A tradition that dates back centuries to the British Royal Navy, baptisms were...
08 August 2022 USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) Decommissioned With plank owners and former crew members looking on, the crew of USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) decommissioned their ship at a Naval Station Norfolk, ceremony Aug. 4. The event comes just months before the ship’s 29th commissioning anniversary. Hundreds gathered in the August heat to celebrate the ship’s...
29 June 2022 USS Lassen Sets Example for Self-Sufficiency at Sea In the face of debilitating obstacles and hurdles, Sailors on board the guided-missile destroyer USS Lassen (DDG 82) devised a creative solution to restore the ship’s engineering plant to bring Lassen back into the fight.“From the research, to the planning, to the execution, this fix is the epitome...
07 June 2022 USS Oscar Austin Holds Change of Command Ceremony The guided-missile destroyer USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79) held its change of command ceremony aboard the ship, June 3, 2022. Cmdr. Bryan Wolfe relieved Cmdr. Matthew Krull during the time-honored ceremony, which was presided over by Rear Adm. Brendan McLane, commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic...
16 May 2022 Destroyer Forrest Sherman Receives Painting of Former Namesake Ship A former operations officer of destroyer USS Forrest Sherman (DD-931) gifted a painting to the crew of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98), April 27.Retired U.S. Navy Cmdr. George Keller presented the painting, a departure gift he received when concluding...
11 May 2022 SURFLANT Hosts Commander's Training Symposium Rear Adm. Brendan McLane, commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic (SURFLANT), hosted the bi-annual, two-day leadership training symposium, May 5-6. The first day was held at Drexler Manor Conference Center on Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek, and the second day on Naval Support Activity...
14 April 2022 USS Lassen Holds Change of Command The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Lassen (DDG 82) held a change of command ceremony while on board Naval Station Mayport, Fla. Cmdr. Chris Turmel relieved Cmdr. Paul Cassutti as commanding officer, Apr. 8. Family, friends, and the crew were in attendance for the celebrated...
28 February 2022 USS Oscar Austin Completes Successful Sea Trials The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79) returned to Naval Station Norfolk following completion of a successful four-day sea trials, Feb. 17, 2022. This underway was one of the ship’s final requirements to rejoin the operational fleet following an extended...
22 February 2022 SURFLANT to Host Enlisted Leader Development Town Hall As the Navy brushes off the dust on many programs, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, one, in particular, is needing a reboot. The Enlisted Leader Development (ELD) Town Hall will be offered here in Norfolk at CEP-86, on Feb. 24, 25, and March 3, 2022.ELD is a multi-day course that covers leadership,...
14 February 2022 USS Leyte Gulf Changes Command at Naval Station Norfolk The guided-missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55) completed a change of command aboard Naval Station Norfolk, Feb. 10, 2022. Commander, Carrier Strike Group 10 Rear Adm. Rick Cheeseman presided as Capt. Michael Weeldreyer relieved Capt. Andrew Bates as the ship’s commanding officer. “With the...
24 January 2022 The Heart of a Littoral Combat Ship Reserve Sailor Arriving at Naval Station Mayport on October 3, 2021, Operations Specialist (OS) 3rd Class Chaurice Smothers came with a mission, and a personal goal in mind. As a Selected Reservist (SELRES) assigned to Navy Reserve Littoral Combat Ship Squadron (LCSRON) 2’s Maintenance Execution Team (MET) ALPHA...
08 December 2021 USS Detroit Sailors Visit Namesake City Sailors assigned to the Freedom-variant, littoral combat ship USS Detroit (LCS 7) visited their namesake city Dec. 2-6, to strengthen ties with the people of Detroit and tour local points of interest. The trip was largely organized by the Metropolitan Detroit Chapter of the Navy League of the United...
03 December 2021 Jacksonville Jaguars Welcome USS The Sullivans Crew home from Deployment The Jacksonville Jaguars hosted the crew from USS The Sullivans (DDG 68) during their Salute to Service game this past Sunday, Nov. 28. The Arleigh Burke-class, guided-missile destroyer returned home from a seven-month deployment Nov. 24, just in time to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with their...
02 December 2021 USS Truxtun Conducts Burial at Sea Honoring the lives of veterans who committed themselves to America, the USS Truxtun (DDG 103) crew conducted a burial at sea while underway off the coast of Jacksonville, Fla., Nov. 14. Among the service members buried at sea were 19 Sailors and one U.S. Army National Guard Soldier. Their home...