Carr Sailors Return Home from Deployment

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class John Suits, Navy Public Affairs Support Element-East

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- Sailors aboard the Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate USS Carr (FFG 52) returned to Naval Station Norfolk, Va., Oct. 7, after a six-month deployment in support of counter-narcotics trafficking and theater security cooperation objectives in the 4th Fleet Area of Responsibility (AOR).

Friends and family members braved the cold and windy climate holding up signs and banners to welcome their Sailors back home after a lengthy deployment.

"I've never seen an event like this before," said Carolyn Hill, a native of Dallas and mother of Lt. j.g. Scott Hill, who is assigned to engineering department aboard Carr. "I'm proud of his service and the fact that he carries on a tradition of service like his dad, who was a CT [Cryptologic Technician] for the Navy."

Carr Sailors got a chance to visit six different ports, including Peru, Costa Rica, Curacao, Columbia, Panama, Aruba and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Carr and her Sailors were instrumental in the prevention of smuggling of over $40 million in drugs and deterred illegal activities during their deployment.

"The great thing about our Navy is we always prepare our ships and Sailors well," said Cmdr. Eric Ver Hage, Carr's commanding officer. "We went on deployment ready to go, accomplished the mission with class and got everybody home safe and sound."

For some Sailors aboard Carr this marked their first deployment and felt proud about the contributions they made.

"It's good to be home," said Information Systems Technician Seaman (SW) Wayne Faltin, from Lyndenhurst, N.Y. "Words can't explain how I feel because this was a good cruise. This was my first deployment and there was a lot of excitement, anxiety and work done to accomplish the mission."

Carr Sailors take time off to celebrate their homecoming, new beginnings approach for the crew as they prepare for another deployment.

"Today, the cycle starts anew," said Ver Hage. "We begin a new phase in the ship's life, welcome new Sailors coming aboard [for the first time] and deploy 16 months from now."

USS Carr Intercepts More Than One Ton of Cocaine

ABOARD USS CARR, At Sea (NNS) -- Units assigned to U.S. 4th Fleet and the U.S. Coast Guard intercepted a high-speed "go-fast" vessel carrying more than one ton of cocaine Aug. 18.

The combined team of USS Carr (FFG 52), with embarked Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (Light) (HSL) 42 Det 8, was patrolling the Caribbean Sea when they intercepted a vessel in the middle of the night, capturing three suspected narcotics smugglers and the large cargo of cocaine with an estimated inport value of $22 million.

A search of the vessel revealed more than 45 bales of cocaine, which was seized by U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) 409 as evidence in preparation for criminal prosecution.

The coordinated actions of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, and Joint Interagency Task Force-South (JIATF-S) were instrumental to the successful interdiction of narcotics.

Carr, homeported in Norfolk, Va., is currently deployed in the Caribbean under the operation control of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (NAVSO) and U.S. 4th Fleet, conducting counter illicit trafficking operations in support of JIATF-S, U.S. Law Enforcement, and the U.S. and participating nations' drug control policy.

Carr is also supporting the U.S. Maritime Strategy by conducting Theater Security Cooperation (TSC) events, such as Community Relation (COMREL) projects, throughout Latin America.

USS Carr Completes Caribbean Security Cruise

By Ensign Tim Boston, USS Carr Public Affairs

USS Carr (FFG 52) returned home May 24, after a two-month deployment to the Western Atlantic and Caribbean Sea.

Carr was underway conducting Theater Security Cooperation (TSC) events in the Caribbean, and made port calls in Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Curacao, Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (GTMO) and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

"The combination of Theater Security Cooperation and good liberty in the warm tropical sun of the Caribbean has made a very positive impression on Carr Sailors, and I believe the local populations of these countries we visited were glad we did," said Cmdr. Mark V. Metzger, Carr's commanding officer.

Highlights of the deployment included interaction and training with the Barbados Coast Guard, two community relations projects and multiple Navy-to-Navy engagements.

The deployment culminated in Carr's participation in Caribbean Navy Days 2008 in Curacao, Netherlands Antilles with the Colombian, Dutch, British, French, and Trinidadian navies.

Hosted by the Dutch Navy, Dutch Royal Marines and Netherlands Antilles Coast Guard. Caribbean Navy Days consisted of ship tours, aerial and small boat demonstrations, live music from the Dutch Royal Marine Band and local steel drum bands, a seven-mile run around Willemstad and a parade of ships into the Curacao harbor for thousands of tourists and locals to watch.

"I'm always quite impressed by the camaraderie and genuine fellowship between professional naval forces such as these gathered here," said Metzger. "Together we showed the people of Curacao what we bring to the table in defense capabilities, but moreover the strategic importance of our presence here."

In Barbados, Carr participated in several events to improve interoperability with the Barbados Coast Guard. Lt. Chris Locher, Carr's Combat Systems officer, spoke to Barbados Sailors about U.S. Navy visit, board, search and seizure tactics and discussed differences between his experiences in the Persian Gulf and Mediterranean Sea and the Barbadian Coast Guard's experiences conducting counter-illicit trafficking missions in the Caribbean.

"It is a great opportunity to share experiences with Sailors who conduct the same types of operations, but have a different perspective," said Locher.

Also in Barbados, Carr Sailors delivered two pallets of Project Handclasp toys and medical supplies to the Needy Children's Charity, a local charity in Bridgetown, Barbados. Project Handclasp, an aid organization that collects and delivers donations from the United States to children in need around the world, provided the supplies for Carr Sailors to deliver and distribute.

In Trinidad, 30 Carr Sailors participated in a community relations project repainting the exterior of the Cocorite Government Primary School, a primary school outside of Port of Spain, Trinidad. The school consists of 160 students, ages five to 15. Although they had the day off from school, many students came to observe the Sailors painting their school.

"My grandfather is from Trinidad and my friend's mother is from here as well," said Operations Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Christopher Rainer. "I enjoy giving back and showing that America is here to do good [things]. Talking to the locals, I know they appreciate us being here."

Projects, such as those in Barbados and Trinidad, foster goodwill between Sailors and the local community and allow Sailors to interact with locals and leave a positive impression long after they leave.

Carr visited the U.S. Virgin Islands for supplies and liberty, and visited GTMO to refuel, restock provisions, and conduct Force Protection Training in preparation for a Force Protection Initial Assessment Qualification.