Hopper visits Kiribati
7th Fleet Release
Release Date: 11/19/2003
By Seventh Fleet public affairs
KIRIBATI - USS Hopper (DDG 70) arrived here Nov. 19 for a port visit to this tiny island near Fiji. While in port, the ship's approximately 325 Sailors will participate in a variety of events and interact with the local population.
The Pearl Harbor, Hawaii-based AEGIS guided missile destroyer is making a routine port visit while in the Seventh Fleet area of responsibility. The crew will also take part in commemorations marking the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Tarawa.
On Nov. 20, 1943, 18,600 Marines landed on the island to liberate it from an occupying Japanese force. It was a successful assault, but during the 75-hour battle, 3,301 Americans and 4,690 Japanese were killed or wounded.
Hopper's mission is to operate offensively in a high density, multi-threat environment as an integral member of a battle group, surface action group, amphibious task group, or underway replenishment group.
Hopper is commanded by Cmdr. Michael W. Selby.
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