Navy Destroyers: Questions & Answers to what your Sailors life will be like while serving aboard a Destroyer in the United States Navy.
Life while deployed on a DDG
My son is about to deploy on a DDG and I'm curious what life will be like. Do they spend all their time at sea, do they get to visit foreign ports, do they get liberty? just a few of the questions I have about life under deployment.
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Paige it's awesome to hear that you've spent the Thanksgiving holiday with your son Billy and that beef jerky must be yummy!! :)
Gary, thank you for posting the article below about the Howard's deployment. I wasn't there to see my son and his shipmates off, but I did have the opportunity to spend the Thanksgiving holiday weekend staying through Sunday with Billy. We made a brief visit to the ship while I was there and stowed away a box full of homemade beef jerky that I had made and taken with me to SD. Billy was given instruction by me that he couldn't open the box under after they got underway. I wonder how far out the ship was before he and the crew got into it, lol...
USS Howard Departs for Western Pacific Deployment
131202-N-SV210-062 SAN DIEGO (Dec. 2, 2013) - The guided missile destroyer USS Howard (DDG 83) departs San Diego on an independent deployment to the Western Pacific. Howard is a multi-mission ship designed to operate independently or with an associated strike group. While deployed, Howard will conduct theater security cooperation and maritime presence operations with partner nations. (U.S. Navy photo by Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Donnie W. Ryan/Released)
By Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs
SAN DIEGO - The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Howard (DDG 83) depart Naval Base San Diego on an independent deployment to the Western Pacific Ocean, Dec. 2.
Howard is a multi-mission ship designed to operate independently or with an associated strike group. While deployed, Howard will conduct Theatre Security Cooperation and maritime presence operations with partner nations.
"Though the crew will miss friends and families, Howard is deploying at the peak of readiness," said Cmdr. David Zook, Howard's commanding officer. "We look forward to serving the nation."
Howard is named in honor of Marine Corps 1st Sgt. Jimmie E. Howard, a combat veteran of both Korea and Vietnam who was awarded the Medal of Honor, Silver Star and three Purple Hearts during his 27 years of service.
U.S. Third Fleet leads naval forces in the Eastern Pacific from the West Coast of North America to the international date line and provides the realistic, relevant training necessary for an effective global Navy.
Navy's giant, stealthy new destroyer gets hull wet...
The first-in-class Zumwalt, the largest U.S. Navy destroyer ever built, floats off a submerged dry dock in the Kennebec River on Oct. 28 in Bath, Maine. Unlike warships with towering radar- and antenna-laden superstructures, the Zumwalt will ride low to the water to minimize its radar signature, making it stealthier than others. (Robert F. Bukaty / AP)
October 16, 2013 -
USS Spruance departs from San Diego...
Ship Naming Ceremony Held in San Diego for Three Destroyers...
130920-N-SK590-236 SAN DIEGO (Sept. 20, 2011) Lt. Gen. John A. Toolan Jr., commanding general of Marine Expeditionary Force, delivers remarks during a ship naming ceremony at Naval Base San Diego. Toolan declared the names of the Navy's next three guided-missile destroyers: USS John Finn (DDG 113), USS Ralph Johnson (DDG 114) and USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Tim D. Godbee/Released)
Story Number: NNS130920-24Release Date: 9/20/2013 10:05:00 PM
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Tim D. Godbee, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West
SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- A naming ceremony was held at Naval Base San Diego for the Arleigh-Burke class guided- missile destroyers USS John Finn (DDG 113), USS Ralph Johnson (DDG 114) and USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115) Sept. 20.
Friends and family attended the ceremony and Lt. Gen. John A Toolan Jr., Marine Expeditionary Force commanding general, gave the keynote address.
Toolan expressed that the three men for which the ships are named, were like anchors within their units and set a high standard for heroism within the services.
"These three men are examples of the service, sacrifice, dedication and the heroism it took to be that anchor from World War II to Vietnam to Iraq," said Toolan. "We're here today to name these destroyers in their honor. These destroyers will be able to conduct a variety of operations, from peace time presence and crisis management, to sea control and power projection."
Georgeann McRaven, sponsor of the USS Ralph Johnson, said she's looking forward to working with and supporting the ship and it's crew as it transforms from raw metal to a war-fighting vessel.
"I will become part of the ship. I'll be kind of like a den mother to the crew," said McRaven. "It will be wonderful when the ship has a crew and will be able to go out to see for the first time. I look forward to it."
Lt. John Finn was the first Medal of Honor recipient of World War II. He was honored for defending his ship from Japanese aircraft for over two hours during the attack on Pearl Harbor despite being shot twice and having numerous shrapnel wounds. He died at the age of 100 in 2010.
Pfc. Ralph Johnson was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in March 1968 after jumping on a hand grenade that was thrown into his fighting hole to save the life of a fellow Marine and to prevent the enemy from penetrating his patrol perimeter.
Sgt. Rafael Peralta was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross after taking critical gunshot wounds and later grabbing live grenade and covering it with his body to save his fellow Marines during a firefight in Fallujah, Iraq, Nov. 2004.
Just a note: If any of your Sailors are being affected by the Sequester, concerning Tuition Assistance, we got word today that Park University out of Missouri is offering free tuition ( I believe it may be in the form of a scholarship), as well as waiving registration fees for our men and women in uniform. Didn't know if it would be of any help for you all to know, but anything that helps should be passed on.
Heather is on the USS William P Lawrence DDG #110 recently deployed
Godspeed
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