U.S. Coast Guard Integrates with USS Gary, 3rd Fleet

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Derek Stroop, Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet Public Affairs

PACIFIC OCEAN (NNS) -- U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment Team (LEDET) 101 embarked and integrated with Sailors on the Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate USS Gary (FFG 51) for training and anti-drug smuggling operations off the California coast, Aug. 26 - 29.

"We are currently supporting counter-smuggling operations by providing law enforcement capabilities to Third Fleet Navy platforms in known drug and migrant transit corridors," said Coast Guard Chief Maritime Enforcement Specialist Chris Sinclair, officer-in-charge of LEDET 101, assigned to Pacific Tactical Law Enforcement Team (TACLET) San Diego.

The U.S. Navy and Coast Guard team participated in joint training evolutions including communications troubleshooting and small boat operations.

During small boat operations, Gary Sailors manned and lowered a rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) alongside the ship. There, members of the LEDET embarked the RHIB, where they performed communication checks and evasive maneuvers.

"Our evolutions went great," said Boatswain's Mate 3rd Class Isaac Abakah. "There were no problems integrating deck department personnel with the [Coast Guardsmen]."

The current underway aboard Gary is not the first operation where a LEDET has embarked a 3rd Fleet ship.

"In June, the Coast Guard came out to the Gary to participate in integrated training with our visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) team," said Lt. Cmdr. Bob Jones, executive officer of Gary. "The training and integration between both branches was successful."

The deployment of LEDETs on naval vessels has become more and more prevalent in recent decades.

"We do integrated training as often as we can," said Sinclair. "I have been on three frigates and the USNS Joint High Speed Vessel Swift performing anti-piracy and anti-drug trafficking missions."

TACLETS are designed to be able to conduct a variety of joint missions to safeguard the public by enforcing U.S. laws across a full spectrum of maritime response situations in support of Coast Guard, National Security and law enforcement operations.

According to Sinclair, federal law requires a LEDET to embark Navy ships when participating in a law enforcement role. The Navy vessel, then, becomes a Coast Guard asset once law enforcement operations take place.

"[The Coast Guardsmen] are experts in law enforcement," said Jones. "We coordinated beneficial training, and we will continue our proficiency in working with the U.S. Coast Guard and Third Fleet assets."

Joint interagency and international relationships strengthen U.S. 3rd Fleet's ability to respond to crises and protect the collective maritime interests of the U.S. and its allies and partners.

USS Gary Deploys in Support of Counter Illicit-trafficking

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Guided-missile frigate, USS Gary (FFG 51) departed San Diego for an independent deployment to the 4th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR) in the Eastern Pacific Ocean Feb. 4.

A crew of about 25 officers and 200 enlisted Sailors will conduct integrated operations with Joint Interagency Task Force-South, based in Key West, Fla., and Coast Guard District 11, based in Alameda, Calif.

Commanded by Cmdr. Christopher J. Budde, Gary will operate in support of counter-illicit trafficking (CIT) efforts, conducting counter-narco-terrorism operations.

Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 43, Det. 6, is embarked aboard Gary and will provide aerial support with an SH-60B helicopter. HSL 43, Det. 6, is joined by a Coast Guard law enforcement detachment who will conduct boarding and law enforcement operations.

"Due to the constantly evolving nature of narcotics smuggling, USS Gary always expects to encounter new tactics employed by traffickers," said Budde. "We will be tested in all warfare areas as we deter and disrupt the movement of illicit narcotics over the sea."

"Keeping illegal substances off our shores is our number one goal. No matter what we encounter I know the crew of the Gary is ready," he continued.

USS Gary falls under the command of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7, led by Cmdre. Peter M. Driscoll and is one of two Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigates in DESRON 7. Gary will relieve USS Jarrett (FFG 33). Jarrett is currently assigned to DESRON 1 and is underway supporting counter-illicit-trafficking efforts in the 4th Fleet AOR.

On its most recent deployment to the Eastern Pacific in the spring of 2009, Gary disrupted more than 6.5 metric tons of cocaine bound for the United States. Gary is expecting to participate in community and cooperative partnership building in addition to their counter narcotics mission.

Gary helps provide deterrence, promote peace and security, preserve freedom of the sea and humanitarian/disaster response within 3rd Fleet's 50-million square mile area of responsibility in the Eastern Pacific, as well as supporting the Navy's Maritime Strategy when forward deployed.

Gary Deploys for Counter-Trafficking Mission

USS Gary (FFG 51) and embarked Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 45 Detachment (Det) 2 departed April 8 for a deployment supporting counter-illicit trafficking (CIT) in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.

The frigate's mission will be to counteract trafficking in illegal substances and halt illegal activities. U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) 103 will conduct boarding and seizure missions aboard suspected trafficking vessels during the deployment. CIT operations are joint efforts designed to support participating nation's drug control programs.

Gary completed an extensive maintenance, upkeep and rigorous training cycle in preparation for the deployment. Gary is commanded by Cmdr. Daniel J. Senesky and the ship falls under Commander, Destroyer Squadron 1, led by Capt. Michael W. Selby, commodore, who saw the Gary off at her departure.

He commended the Sailors for their hard work during the past several months, which included a successful Board of Inspection and Survey material inspection that certified the frigate fit for sustained combat operations.

Gary's mission will directly support the U.S. maritime strategy by providing sustained interdiction operations and promoting cooperative relationships with the Coast Guard to provide a layered defense of the homeland.

USS Gary Returns to San Diego After 8 Years in Japan

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Mark Logico, Fleet Public Affairs Center Pacific

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- The Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate USS Gary (FFG 51) returned home to Naval Base San Diego Sept. 10, after being forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan for eight years.

Gary, which played an active role as part of the Kitty Hawk Strike Group, was the only forward-deployed frigate assigned to U.S. 7th Fleet until it recently completed a hull swap and turned over with guided-missile destroyer USS McCampbell (DDG 85).

Gary’s Commanding Officer Cmdr. Joker L. Jenkins said the transition between the frigate and the destroyer was a logical change, bringing in a more capable ship out to the forward deployed forces in Japan.

“By sending a Navy ship with ballistic missile defense capability and the Aegis weapons systems, we are increasing the capabilities out in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations,” said Jenkins.

During the transition, more than 175 Sailors made a one-to-one exchange between each ship so that their respective families would not have to transition to a new duty station.

“We had a large transition,” said Jenkins. “More than three quarters of the crew are formerly McCampbell Sailors. This was good for the interest of families who are still living in San Diego.”

Gas Turbine System (Mechanical) 3rd Class (SW) William Broughton, a former McCampbell Sailor, said he was glad to be aboard Gary and happy to be closer to his wife and 1-year-old son in San Diego.

“Gary feels different,” said Broughton. “I was on a bigger ship. But the smaller ship is a lot better because you get to know your people better. You also get to learn equipment a lot better because there’s not a lot of it.”

Sailors like Broughton who have been on McCampbell and transitioned onto Gary have been out at sea for more than four months and were glad to be back to see family and friends in San Diego.

With Gary settling in San Diego, Jenkins said the ship will be part of Destroyer Squadron 1.

“We will be going to the shipyard and get a multi-million dollar overhaul,” said Jenkins. “We will receive new engineering equipment and electronics to prepare for counter-drug operations in the late summer of 2008.”

The ship was named after the late Cmdr. Donald Arthur Gary who was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1946 for his heroic actions while serving aboard USS Franklin (CV 13) as a lieutenant. During a Japanese attack on the ship, Gary was credited with saving the lives of hundreds of the crew, leading them out of the badly damaged compartments below decks.

Yokosuka Bids Farewell to USS Gary - Changing Homeport

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Gabriel S. Weber, Fleet Public Affairs Center, Det. Japan



YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- Dozens of Sailors and local Japanese civic leaders bid farewell to the Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate USS Gary (FFG 51) during a pierside ceremony aboard Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Aug. 9.

Gary, the only frigate in the forward-deployed U.S. 7th Fleet, will return to San Diego after eight years in Yokosuka.

“This is a celebration,” said Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Japan Rear Adm. James D. Kelly, the keynote speaker for the ceremony. “Yes, we are a little sad to see the USS Gary go back east, but she’s not going away. She’s still in the service of the U.S. Navy.”

Kelly recounted the many missions, exercises and port visits that Gary completed during the last eight years, emphasizing the ship’s engagement in a number of groundbreaking international relations visits to foreign ports.

“We are sure going to miss the Gary’s engagement capability, which really is significant, not to mention her warfighting prowess,” said Kelly. “But this is all about them; it isn’t about U.S. Naval Forces Japan, it’s about the crew of Gary.”

Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Capt. Daniel Weed, was also on hand for the ceremony and spoke of the correlation between Gary’s namesake and the ship’s crew.

“When we speak of USS Gary, we speak of legends,” said Weed. “As the USS Gary’s namesake was a heroic patriot, so are the officers and crew of the USS Gary.”

The late Cmdr. Donald Arthur Gary was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1946 for his heroic actions while serving aboard USS Franklin (CV 13) as a lieutenant. During a Japanese attack on the ship, Gary was credited with saving the lives of hundreds of the crew, leading them out of the badly damaged compartments below decks.

The crew of the Gary seemed to appreciate the ceremony, both for the recognition for their service and for the opportunity to recognize those who have supported them.

“It gives us a chance to thank everybody that’s helped us out,” said Sonar Technician Surface 3rd Class Michael Keys.

As Gary prepares to depart its berthing in Yokosuka for the last time, Weed summarized the emotions surrounding the ship’s departure.

“Today we say farewell to one of Yokosuka’s gray ghosts,” said Weed. “Despite our sadness, however, we are bolstered with pride as you man the watch for Tokyo Wan sea-and-anchor detail one final time.”