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USS McCampbell Departs on Maiden Voyage

Navy Newsstand

Story Number: NNS040505-01

Release Date: 5/5/2004 10:11:00 AM

By Ensign Joël Jackson, USS McCampbell Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- USS McCampbell (DDG 85) departed May 5 for its first deployment.

The ship and its crew are headed to Southeast Asia in support of a Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) cruise. McCampbell will be conducting joint naval exercises with the countries of Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippines.

May 4, Vice Adm. Timothy LaFleur, commander, Naval Surface Forces, spoke to crew members before they left for their deployment. In his speech, La Fleur emphasized the importance of U.S. Navy Sailors representing their country with pride and grace while in foreign countries, displaying the core values of honor, courage, and commitment.

"McCampbell is known for its excellence, and you will take that with you to the beach," he said. LaFleur ended his speech by reciting the Sailor's Creed with the crew.

McCampbell will deploy on CARAT under the authority of Commander, Destroyer Squadron 1 along with USS Russell (DDG 59) and USS Salvor (ARS 52) based out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43) homeported in Sasebo, Japan; and USCGC Mellon (WHEC 717) homeported in Seattle, Wash. This year marks the 10th anniversary of CARAT exercises.

McCampbell is assigned to Commander, Destroyer Squadron 1, homeported in San Diego. The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer was built in Bath, Maine, and commissioned in August 2002. Since the ship's commissioning, McCampbell has undergone a compressed inter-deployment training cycle and two counter-narcotics operations in the Eastern Pacific. The ship has a crew of 30 officers and 310 Sailors.