USS Chung-Hoon DDG-93PEARL HARBOR (NNS) -- The guided-missile cruiser USS Chosin (CG 65) and guided- missile destroyer USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93) returned to Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Sept. 28, from a five-and-a-half month deployment to the Western Pacific.
The ships and their crew totaling 640 Sailors deployed April 16 as part of the USS Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group and conducted maritime operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet and 7th Fleet area of operations.
The commanding officers of both ships commented on the outstanding performance of their crews during the deployment.
“It feels great to be back,” said Capt. Steven A. Lott, Chosin’s commanding officer. "Our troops did fantastic and our Sailors did fantastic while we were deployed. We did lots of great work in support of theater security cooperation, made some great new friends in Malaysia, India, the Philippines and Hong Kong, and we played a really important role in supporting the war on terrorism.”
“The deployment was outstanding," said Cmdr. James Aiken, Chung-Hoon’s commanding officer. “We had 300 sea warriors on board that went above and beyond their jobs while doing a lot of interesting things from sea operations to operations in the Northern Arabian Gulf.”
The Arabian Gulf is a body of water more commonly known as the Persian Gulf.
In addition to providing maritime security, the ships also participated in humanitarian assistance missions in the Philippines.
“We had 120 Sailors participate in helping the needy in the Philippines by building houses and building community relations, which was a major impact not only for the people, but for the Sailors,” said Aiken.
This deployment was a learning experience for many of the ships’ junior Sailors, some of whom have never been on deployment.
“This deployment was my first one and I had the chance to see what it was like to work aboard a ship and to do my job,” said Fire Controlman 3rd Class Ethan Thomas, assigned to Chung-Hoon. “The deployment was long and some days were very hard and demanding, but overall I learned a lot, made good friends and went to places I never thought I would ever go.”
The Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group consists of Amphibious Squadron 7, Bonhomme Richard, Chosin, Chung-Hoon, USS Denver (LPD 9), USS Rushmore (LSD 47), USS Milius (DDG 69), and 2,200 combat ready Marines of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
USS Chosin CG-65