Camden Returns for Final Time
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS050817-06
Release Date: 8/17/2005 1:16:00 PM
By Journalist 3rd Class Adam Vernon, Naval Base Kitsap Public Affairs
BREMERTON, Wash. (NNS) -- USS Camden (AOE 2) returned to its homeport of Bremerton for the final time Aug. 15 after a seven-month global combat deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom and the global war on terrorism.
Camden will decommission later this year after 38 years of naval service.
“This is a little overwhelming,” said Capt. Kenneth Norton, Camden's commanding officer, about the support the families have given throughout the voyage. “It is a little [bittersweet] because this was our final deployment with her. I’m proud of the accomplishments of the crew and...it’s the end of an era. It’s time we put this young lady to rest.”
Norton added that since the ship is set to decommission in a few weeks, Sailors who were scheduled to transfer to their next duty station did so, leaving a ship that deployed with more than 600 crew members with a little more than 400 aboard as it returned.
Camden’s primary mission is to provide logistic support to combat ships and allow them to remain at sea with unlimited fortitude. During the deployment, Camden provided support for four carrier strike groups and two expeditionary strike groups. The ship completed 123 underway replenishments, transferring 18.5 million gallons of jet fuel and 11.3 million gallons of diesel fuel, not to mention 583 tons of ammunition.
The Camden crew took the ship through Singapore, Spain, Guam, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Sicily, as well as both the Suez and Panama canals. After all of that, Machinist's Mate 3rd Class Omar Mora said he was ready to come home.
“All those places were cool and all, but I was ready to get back and see my new baby,” Mora said.
Camden has called Bremerton home since 1974. Norton said that prior to the ship’s decommissioning, the crew will get a small leave stand-down.
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