NNS021003-11 John Young Decommissioned
Release Date: 10/3/2002 11:34:00 AM
By Journalist 2nd Class David McKee, Public Affairs Center San Diego
SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Smoke from a 21-gun salute honoring USS John Young (DD 973) rolled over Pier 2 at Naval Station San Diego Sept. 12. With that, the ship's last watch was relieved, and the 24-year-old warship's decommissioning orders were declared.
Sailors from John Young's twilight crew and the original 1978 crewmembers, also known as "plankowners," paid tribute to the ship in a retirement ceremony at Naval Base, San Diego.
"The ships of the past need to step aside and make room for the ships of the future," added Capt. Stuart Cvrk, with Space Warfare and Systems Command, and a John Young plankowner. "It is only a part of the renewal process the Navy has been going through for 226 years."
Unlike many ships that become part of this "renewal process" and end up being towed by a civilian tugboat to a shipyard, John Young will make a final three-day voyage to Bremerton, Wash., under its own power and with nearly a full complement of 280 Sailors.
"Ordinarily a contracted tugboat tows the ship to the shipyard, and there is no military involvement. We will be fully able to sail up to Bremerton next week and be fully capable of defending ourselves," said Lt. Cmdr. Steven Prescott, the operations officer aboard John Young.
Even though the ship is being decommissioned, it will get underway for the last time as a functional vessel, according to Cmdr. Tim Smith, the ship's commanding officer. Smith is determined to keep the ship fully operational until it completes its final voyage. "The crew of this ship is going to be eating Navy chow until October 1st," Smith said.
Smith also believes that it is the Sailors who crew warships that are their life blood. "More than anything else, the greatness of a ship begins on the deckplates with the crew," Smith said.
John Young gave many young Sailors the opportunity to experience what most Americans never will. One of those Sailors was Quartermaster Seaman Tomas Collazo Jr.
"The most rewarding thing is just being able to be out and see things and places I thought I would never of had a chance to see," Collazo said. "The experience was just what I hoped for."
Last year, the John Young was among the first ships to respond to the attacks on New York and the Pentagon.
John Young has had an impressive career that began with its commissioning in May of 1978 as one of a new class of destroyers. John Young, the 11th Spruance-class ship, was built as an upgrade to the aging World War II-era destroyers or "Tin Cans." It was designed to operate both independently and with amphibious or carrier task groups.
It had the light weight of a destroyer displacing 9,000 tons, and was 563 feet from bow to stern. It also had the punch of a cruiser, with the 700-mile strike capability of up to 61 Tomahawk missiles that could be launched from a MK41 Vertical Launch System.
The ship is named after an American Continental Navy Captain born in 1740. Capt. Young was known for the bravery he displayed for his country when he cut the British supply line during the American Revolution.
The ship had a meritorious career. It participated in some of this countries most notable missions over the last 24 years. These included humanitarian assistance to Vietnamese refugees, taking part in actions in and around the Arabian Gulf in the Iran and Iraq "Tanker War" and the continued enforcement of sanctions against Iraq.
Smith told the people gathered at the decommissioning ceremony to pay respects to the ship before it made its final voyage. It was the commitment his Sailors had to service that helped him make peace with the retiring of the ship.
"When I think of the John Young, I will think of Sailors," said Smith.
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