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Cushing Conducts Historic Port Visit

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS050603-03
Release Date: 6/3/2005 8:09:00 AM

By Lt. j.g. Robert Buck, Carrier Strike Group 5 Public Affairs

PETROPAVLASK, Russia (NNS) -- USS Cushing (DD 985) made history May 27 as the ship anchored in the Russian port of Petropavlask, by becoming the first U.S. Navy ship to visit the port since World War II.

Just after sunrise, the ship anchored in Petropavlask’s Avacha Bay, which is surrounded by snow-covered, dormant volcanoes and mountain peaks reaching 1,200 feet.

Cryptologic Technician (Communications) 1st Class (SW) Clinton Comer was impressed with his first view of Russia.

“This is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen,” he said. “This is really amazing.”

Cmdr. Steven A. Mucklow, the ship’s commanding officer, and other Cushing Sailors were greeted at a ceremony in their honor by the 114th Brigade of the Kamchatka Military Region in Petropavlask and their commander, Capt. Nikaly Radchikov. During the ceremony, Mucklow spoke on the significance of the port visit for both countries.

“The hospitality shown to us on our arrival is indicative of the strong and continuing relationship that exists between our two nations,” he said. “The Russian Pacific Fleet and U.S. 7th Fleet to which Cushing belongs have a common understanding of our shared working environment at sea.”

The port call not only offered Cushing the opportunity to interact with their Russian hosts, but also to see some of the most beautiful scenery that Russia has to offer, much of it untouched and with abundant wildlife. Morale, Welfare and Recreation events included trips to local hot springs, rafting trips on the Avacha River and horseback riding.

Lt. Brad Hawksworths summed up his experience of a rafting trip with three words.

“Awesome, simply awesome,” he said.

Team sports and friendly competition were also easy to come by as Cushing put together a volleyball team to compete with their Russian counterparts.

“Their team was really good. It looked like they had been playing together for a while, but we still did our best,” said Hull Maintenance Technician 3rd Class David Marshall. "It was a lot of fun to play against them.”

Following the match, both teams celebrated with a picnic. Later, the Russian sailors invited their guests to their pool and sauna facilities.

Other Sailors took a more casual approach to interacting with their hosts and spent the port visit strolling through Petropavlask.

“The people were extremely friendly. I was asked many times if I was enjoying their city and their country,” said Engineman 2nd Class (SW) Robert Johnston.

As this was the first port visit for a U.S. Navy ship since World War II, Cushing and Russian navy Sailors marked the occasion by laying a wreath at a local memorial to the war.

Along with music provided by the region’s military band and honors rendered by a gun salute, Mucklow also recognized the sacrifice of those who served during the war.

“It is fitting that today we honor those that lost their lives in the war that Russia and the United States fought together,” he said.

Petropavlask is the last port visit Cushing will make outside of the United States, and on May 31, she departed to continue on her final journey. In September, Cushing will become the last Spruance-class destroyer in the U.S. Navy to be decommissioned, ending her service that started 26 years ago with her commissioning Oct. 20, 1979.

Operating out of Yokosuka, Japan, Cushing is assigned to Destroyer Squadron 15 and the USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) Strike Group.