Ford Returns After Five-month Deployment
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS041108-04
Release Date: 11/8/2004 11:19:00 AM
By Journalist 1st Class (SW) Daniel Sanford, Naval Station Everett Public Affairs
NAVAL STATION EVERETT, Wash. (NNS) -- USS Ford (FFG 54) returned to Naval Station Everett Nov. 5, after spending more than five months deployed with the USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) Strike Group.
During deployment, the Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate took part in exercises Northern Edge 2004, Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) and Joint Air-Sea Exercise (JASEX).
"Our duties mainly focused on patrol of the Western Pacific, Sea of Japan and South China Sea," said Ford Commanding Officer Cmdr. David Schnell. "It was a great deployment. We did get extended for a month, but the crew took it in stride. As a consolation, we ended up getting a port visit to Australia."
However, Ford also spent a great deal of time dodging some pretty rough weather.
In August, while operating in the vicinity of Okinawa, Japan, a strong tropical depression formed to the south of Ford's position. The storm soon developed into a tropical cyclone that tore through the frigate's operating area with 110-knot (126.7 mph) winds and 28-foot swells.
Ford safely performed evasive maneuvers and avoided the brunt of the cyclone's ferocity.
But on the day of Ford's homecoming, the weather was much more cooperative. The ship was met by friends and family members, who were anxious to see their loved ones for the first time in nearly six months.
"This is so exciting," said Amanda Drabness, fiancée of Engineman 2nd Class Jeffe Buckley. "It was horrible without him. He's my life and I just can't live without him."
Even Sailors without a loved one waiting for them didn't leave the ship empty handed. Local Everett business donated numerous items that were put into bags for single Sailors.
In all, 108 single-Sailor bags were distributed on board the ship for eligible crew members.
"The city of Everett actually took control of the single-Sailor program," said Alicia Brezany, Ford's ombudsman. "They gathered all sorts of donated items from local chamber of commerce businesses. They did a wonderful job."
Schnell said he is filled with mixed emotions emotions about the homecoming.
"It's a bittersweet homecoming for me," he said. "I'm thrilled to bring my ship home, but my change of command is in four days."
Schnell will turn over command of the ship Nov. 9 to Cmdr. Timothy Spratto.
But on this day, Schnell decided to focus on the now.
"It's a beautiful day in Everett for a homecoming," he said. "Any day it's not raining is a beautiful day here. We couldn't ask for a better time to come home."
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