JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM – Families and friends will welcome home the guided-missile destroyer USS Chafee (DDG 90) tomorrow, June 7, after a six-month independent deployment to the Western Pacific.
Chafee, commanded by Cmdr. Justin A. Kubu, has a crew of more than 250 Sailors.
“When I look at my Sailors, I am inspired by all they have accomplished and by how dedicated they are to their jobs,” Kubu said. “Any task you give them, these men and women can do it all.”
Chafee participated in maritime exercises, provided air defense for an amphibious task group, conducted fisheries patrols, and provided support for Joint Special Operations Task Force – Philippines (JSOTF-P). Chafee Sailors volunteered to plant trees in Darwin, Australia and teach children how to play soccer in Iloilo, Philippines. They refurbished schools, built homes, helped at science fairs, marched in parades and volunteered at sports clinics.
“They made this deployment successful and helped strengthen our relationship with our allies. I cannot thank them enough for all they have done to make this deployment unforgettable,” Kubu said.
The ship deployed Nov. 29, 2011, transiting with the USS CARL VINSON Strike Group in several passing exercises with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and South Korean and Russian navies.
“CHAFEE traveled over 45,000 nautical miles and executed a wide variety of missions,” said Chafee Executive Officer Cmdr. Anthony Littmann. “The Officers and crew performed remarkably, and their success is a testament to their preparation, both prior to deployment and while in theater.”
Littman said Chafee Sailors showed pride in the maintenance of their ship for months at sea.
“I know that their reunions with friends and families are well deserved,” he said.
Guided-missile destroyers are multi-mission anti-air warfare, anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare surface combatants. They operate independently for support of carrier and expeditionary strike groups and surface strike groups. The mission of an Arleigh Burke Class Aegis Destroyer is to conduct prompt, sustained combat operations at sea in support of national policy.
Chafee is assigned to Commander, Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific and Commander, U.S. Third Fleet and operates forward in support of the nation’s maritime strategy.
For more information visit the ship’s website: https://www.public.navy.mil/surfor/ddg90/Pages/default.aspx
Submitted by public affairs