• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

USS Pasadena returns from Western Pacific Deployment

COMSUBPAC Release

Release Date: 10/31/2003

By JO3 Corwin Colbert COMSUBPAC Public Affairs

Pearl Harbor, HI -- Following an eight-month extended deployment in the 7th Fleet area of operations, USS Pasadena (SSN 752) returned to its homeport of Pearl Harbor Oct. 31, 2003.

While on deployment, USS Pasadena participated in various exercises with U.S. assets and allied countries.

According to Cmdr. Donald Fritts, USS Pasadena's commanding officer, the crew did an outstanding job.

"The mission was a success. We were supposed to be deployed six months, but Operation Iraqi Freedom committed us for another two. We did everything that was asked of us and the crew was proud to do their part," said Fritts. "As apart of the USS Nimtz Strike Group, we all stuck together as a team until the very end," he concluded.

Several opportunities arose to take a break from operations and exercises, the crew was able to visit several ports in Southwest Asia.

Machinists Mate 2nd Class Joseph Acteberry agrees with Fritts. "It was a pretty good cruise. We were kind of disappointed when we heard we were going to be underway for another two months, but then we just kept doing what we were supposed to be doing. Australia was the greatest part of the cruise. It was definitely worthwhile.

As the time approached for their homecoming, the crew grew anxious to see family members and friends.

One such crewmember was Electronics Technician 3rd Class Heath Spencer. "It is awesome to be home and see my wife Brittney and my daughter. She is seven months old now. The cruise was great but not greater than returning home," said Spencer.

USS Pasadena is the second Improved 688 Class submarine and was built by General Dynamics Corporation, Electric Boat Division, Groton, Connecticut, and was commissioned February 11, 1989.

In November 1996, USS Pasadena changed homeports to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii where she is now assigned to Commander, Submarine Squadron Seven.