Eighth US Coast Guard NSC departs shipyard for Hawaii homeport

Future USCGC Midgett, the US Coast Guard’s eighth national security cutter (NSC), got underway from Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Pascagoula, Mississippi, shipyard after being delivered to the coast guard early May.

The ship is headed for Honolulu, Hawaii, where it will be stationed along with the seventh NSC, Kimball, and fast response cutters (FRCs) Joseph Gerczak and Oliver Berry.

FRC William Hart, scheduled for commissioning in late 2019, will also be stationed there.
NSC 8 is named to honor the hundreds of members of the Midgett family who have served in the US Coast Guard and its predecessor services. At least 10 members of the Midgett family earned high honors from the US Coast Guard for their heroic lifesaving deeds. Seven Midgett family members were awarded the Gold Lifesaving Medal, the US Coast Guard’s highest award for saving a life, and three were awarded the Silver Lifesaving Medal.

NSCs are 418 feet (127 m) long with a 54-foot beam and displace 4,500 tons with a full load. They have a top speed of 28 knots, a range of 12,000 miles, an endurance of 60 days and a crew of 120.

San Diego Arrives in Namesake City

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- USS San Diego (LPD 22) arrived in her homeport and namesake city to the cheers of family and friends April 6.

During her maiden voyage from Mississippi to San Diego, the ship stopped in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; Cartagena, Colombia; and transited the Panama Canal.

"I am proud of my crew - they sailed this ship for the first time as a team and handled it like seasoned professionals," said Cmdr. Kevin Meyers, commanding officer, San Diego. "They have worked very hard to reach this point. Now we are eager to share San Diego with her hometown."

The arrival of San Diego represents years of work, time and dedication. Construction of the ship began May 23, 2007 at Huntington Ingalls Shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss., and finished when the Navy accepted delivery Dec. 19, 2011. After months of training and certification, they departed the shipyard for California March 15.

The precommissioning crew began reporting to the ship as early as 2009 to train and oversee everything from the loading of equipment to policy creation.

"It is unreal to finally be back in San Diego," said Electrician's Mate 1st Class Manuel Aponte, one of many crew members who have been away from family for as long as two years. "I've been in Mississippi since August 2010 and I can't believe we're finally here. I'm so glad to be back."

San Diego is the sixth ship in the San Antonio class, the fourth ship named for the city and the first "San Diego" to be homeported here. San Diego will also be the only ship in the fleet currently homeported in her namesake city. The ship will be commissioned in San Diego in May 2012.

USS Kidd Arrives in San Diego

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Shannon R. Warner, Fleet Public Affairs Center, Pacific

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- The Navy’s newest Arleigh-Burke class guided-missile destroyer USS Kidd (DDG 100) was greeted with excitement by the crew’s family and friends when it arrived at its homeport of San Diego, July 19.

Members of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association joined family and friends to welcome the ship and honor the ship’s namesake, Rear Adm. Isaac Campbell Kidd.

Rear Adm. Kidd was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously after directing the counterattack against enemy aircraft from the bridge of his flag ship, USS Arizona, during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941. Rear Adm. Kidd died when the bridge took a direct hit from enemy ordnance.

“It’s important to honor Rear Adm. Kidd, he’s a Medal of Honor winner, and our motto is to ‘Remember Pearl Harbor,’ and keep America alert,” said Bill Craddock of the Pear Harbor Survivors Association.

Like her namesake, the Kidd crew have succeeded in adapting and overcoming overwhelming odds to accomplish the mission given to her by the United States Navy.

“Without a doubt, the crew has exceeded every expectation I had for them. They met every task head on. I can’t say enough about the crew,” said Kidd’s Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Richard E. Thomas. “It’s a great feeling being in charge of such a great ship and such a great crew.”

Kidd's journey to San Diego was delayed when the ship sustained damages during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 while at Pascagoula, Miss., and had to return to dry-dock for repairs.

Now the 276 officers and Sailors serving aboard Kidd can enjoy being reunited with their families and friends.

“I have been separated from my family for about eight months … I’m glad to be home,” said Gas Turbine System Technician (Mechanical) 3rd Class Joshua Catt.

Commissioned June 9 at the Port of Galveston in Galveston, Texas, Kidd is the 50th ship in the Arleigh-Burke class of guided-missile destroyers.

Kidd can conduct a variety of operations in support of the National Military Strategy. The ship contains myriad offensive and defensive weapons designed to support maritime defense needs into the 21st century.

“Kidd is the best ship because it’s ours,” said Thomas.