• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

James E. Williams Returns from Maiden Deployment

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS061018-02
Release Date: 10/18/2006 10:11:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Coleman Thompson, Fleet Public Affairs Center Atlantic

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- The guided-missile destroyer USS James E. Williams (DDG 95), returned to Naval Station Norfolk Oct. 17, after completing its first deployment.

The ship deployed in May as part of the Maritime Security Operations Surge 06-2, working specifically in anti-piracy and maritime interception operations off the Horn of Africa and the Gulf of Aden.

"The crew performed magnificently. This was a short-notice deployment, and a first deployment for about 60 percent of the crew," said Cmdr. Ian Hall, James E. Williams' commanding officer. "We were given about six
months advance warning that we would deploy, which meant that we would have to go through the entire training cycle in a very compressed amount of time."

The crew adapted to the ship’s new technology and achieved certifications ahead of schedule for the deployment.

James E. Williams worked with a detachment from Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (Light) (HSL) 42, from Mayport, Fla., which was fully integrated with the ship’s force.

“Each and every Sailor aboard stepped up and delivered a magnificent performance as we transited the Atlantic, the Mediterranean, and operated in the central command’s theater of operations,” said Hall. “I would certainly love to go on a deployment with them again.”

The ship, commissioned Dec. 11, 2004, in Charleston, S.C., is named after the most decorated enlisted man in Navy history, Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class James E. Williams.