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Patriot Returns to Sasebo After Southeast Asia Deployment

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060724-04
Release Date: 7/24/2006 12:15:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Adam R. Cole, Task Force 76 Public Affairs

SASEBO, Japan (NNS) -- USS Patriot (MCM 7), with embarked Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 5, Detachment (Det) 51, returned to her forward deployed home of Sasebo, Japan, July 23 after a three-month deployment in which the minesweeper enhanced maritime interoperability and bilateral relations with a number of Southeast Asian countries.

As part of Patriot’s 10,000-mile journey, the ship participated in two mine countermeasures exercises in Thailand and Malaysia, Cobra Gold and Western Pacific Mine Countermeasures Exercise (WP-MCMEX) 2006, respectively, and made scheduled port visits to four countries — Singapore, Brunei, Vietnam and Hong Kong.

Patriot completed a community service project at each port visit. The giving nature exemplified by the crew and the Sailors’ ambassadorship ashore has instilled a positive image of America on Southeast Asia and will lead the way to future relations, said Lt. Cmdr. Richard D. Brawley, Patriot commanding officer.

“We have provided a face with a name for these countries...and shown them a face that is sincere about understanding their culture and wanting to develop a deeper friendship with them,” said Brawley. “These Sailors have not only met but exceeded expectations by demonstrating a no-quit attitude and the highest form of professionalism. I am confident that what we did during this deployment will open the door for not only naval activities, but also bilateral relations on several levels with these nations.”

Rear Adm. Victor G. Guillory, Commander, Amphibious Force, U.S. 7th Fleet, made an all-hands call to Patriot when the ship arrived at White Beach Naval Facility in Okinawa, Japan, the Commander, Task Force 76 headquarters, just before the minesweeper made the transit to Sasebo. Guillory offered his personal thanks to the crew and echoed Brawley’s thoughts of their accomplishments.

"The Patriot team can take pride for a job well done during this deployment. They demonstrated the very best of our core values - honor, courage, and commitment,” said Guillory. “I would also like to thank the Patriot families for the great support and personal sacrifice over the last three months."

In between the rigorous deployment schedule, Patriot used the underway time for valuable training in seamanship, damage control and force protection. The ship had 17 people qualify as enlisted surface warfare specialists and eight as officer of the deck, six of those being enlisted Sailors. As a testament to the development of her crew, an all-enlisted sea and anchor team guided the ship into port in Sasebo.

“The enlisted crew members have shown an extremely high level of initiative to get their qualifications and have excelled in leadership positions,” said Brawley. “They have earned everything they have accomplished and truly deserved an opportunity to show their friends and family how far they have come.”

Four new fathers, including Patriot’s commanding officer, were the first to leave the ship when it pulled into Sasebo, giving their newborns cuddly teddy bears. Family members warmly greeted loved ones on the pier and celebrated the moment as part of a special homecoming celebration put on by Fleet Activities Sasebo.

In the moments of reunion, crew members shared some of the highlights of the deployment, trying to portray to loved ones the many sights and sounds they had taken in. Patriot Sailors said they would never forget this tour, the people they met and the activities they participated in.

“It’s been an outstanding cruise, one where I learned something every day...about myself, about my job, about different parts of the world,” said Mineman 1st Class (SW) Felipe Gallegos, tightly clutching his two-month-old baby girl. “I’m happy to be home and be with my family. I know they are proud of me and look forward to sharing with them the experiences that I have had.”

Patriot is a mine countermeasures ship forward deployed to Sasebo, Japan. Patriot and USS Guardian (MCM 5) serve under Task Force 76, which is the 7th Fleet’s mine countermeasures arm in forward-deployed operations. The ship and embarked EODMU 5, Det 51 have been operating in Southeast Asia as part of a long-term deployment to support 7th Fleet’s interoperability and training commitments in mine neutralization warfare and maritime operations.

For related news, visit the Commander, Amphibious Force, U.S. 7th Fleet Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/ctf76/.