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USS Antietam Returns From Deployment

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS050826-11
Release Date: 8/26/2005 3:57:00 PM

By Journalist 3rd Class Leticia Fritzsche, Fleet Public Affairs Center, Pacific

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- USS Antietam (CG 54) returned home to San Diego Aug. 19 after an extended seven-month global tour, which included areas such as the Northern Persian Gulf, Pacific, Indian and Atlantic Oceans, as well as the Suez and Panama canals.

While deployed, Antietam was responsible for leading and providing international coalition task force combat preparations, strategic power, force presence, logistics, and accommodations in addition to flagship duties, all of which were significant to the recently established Iraqi government and economy.

Various operations conducted by Antietam while patrolling the Persian Gulf included protecting the oil platforms, visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) operations and protecting vital assets, while at the same time protecting the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) Carrier Strike Group.

Antietam also embarked Commodore Steve Gilmore, commander, Task Force (CTF) 58, the first Royal Australian Navy (RAN) flag officer to command an at-sea task force since World War II.

“This is the first time in history we embarked an Australian admiral,” said Sonar Technician (Surface) 1st Class Spencer L. Thomas, who helped man the Small Craft Attack Team (SCAT) as one of his duties aboard the ship.

Several hundred family members and friends turned out at Naval Base San Diego to greet loved ones aboard, while one Sailor expressed thoughts of his fellow shipmates.

“That’s my family on board. We take good care of each other,” said Information Systems Technician 1st Class Eric Rhyne, a native of Garland, Texas, as he was welcomed home by his wife, daughter, and son. Rhyne was a part of the VBSS boarding team as the leading petty officer of the Communications Division.

Antietam is a guided-missile cruiser equipped with the Aegis Combat System and performs primarily in a battle force role. It is also outfitted with Tomahawk cruise missiles, giving the ship added long-range strike mission capability.

Antietam is a multimission air warfare, undersea warfare, and surface warfare surface combatant ship capable of supporting amphibious forces, carrier strike groups, or of operating independently and as a flagship of surface action groups.