By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW) Cynthia Clark, Commander, Submarine Force Pacific Public Affairs
USS Columbus (SSN 762) returned to Pearl Harbor Naval Station Sept. 11 following a six-month deployment to the Western Pacific.
As he greeted his family, fellow submariners and other guests, Cmdr. James Doody, Columbus commanding officer took a moment to reflect on the seven year anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.
"We had a great deployment," said Doody. "I think it's especially nice to be able to come home on 9/11, so we can come home and not only see the people we did this for, but the reason why we do it."
As Columbus' more than 130 officers and Sailors were reunited with family and friends, Machinist's Mate 2nd Class (SS) Jared Redmile reflected on the deployment.
"It was exciting," Redmile said. "It was something I was glad I got to do, a great life experience, but nothing beats coming home."
Columbus departed Pearl Harbor in March for a regularly scheduled six-month deployment, during which they supported theater security cooperation efforts and conducted port visits to Guam, Okinawa, Japan and Sasebo, Japan.
Columbus joined the U.S. Pacific Fleet Submarine Force in September 1994.
