The guided-missile destroyer USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93) departed Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam April 2 on an independent deployment to the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.
The ship’s departure, originally planned for Feb. 28, was deferred to better refine sequestration planning and execution.
Commanded by Cmdr. Justin Orlich, the ship and its crew of nearly 280 Sailors will conduct integrated operations in conjunction with allies and partners.
“The crew’s really excited to go out,” Orlich said. “We’ve been on hold for a little over a month now while we fought through the battles of sequestration, but now that we’re approved and ordered to deploy, we’re ready to go. It’s a great feeling knowing we’re ready to go out and do the good things we’ve been training to do.
“We train for any contingency, so regardless of where we’re going to work, the crew is full trained. No matter what we’re faced with, we’ll be ready,” Orlich added.
The ship’s motto is, “Imua e na Koa Kai,” which translates to “Go Forward Sea Warriors.” As part of Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific and Destroyer Squadron Three One, Chung-Hoon operates forward, maintaining the highest warfighting readiness to preserve the freedom of vital sea lanes.
Chung-Hoon is a guided-missile destroyer that is a multi-mission anti-air warfare, anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare surface combatant – an important component of the Navy’s rebalancing of assets and forces to the Pacific.
Chung-Hoon is named in honor of native Hawaiian Rear Adm. Gordon Pai’ea Chung-Hoon, recipient of the Navy Cross and Silver Star in World War II for conspicuous gallantry and extraordinary heroism.
“This deployment is a great opportunity for the men and women of the ship,” said Command Master Chief Christian Detje. “We’ve trained hard for the last 18 months, and we’re very excited to go out and do the nation’s bidding.”
[mappress] Naval Today Staff, April 5, 2013; Image: US Navy