Military

USS McInerney Welcomes Costa Rican Dignitaries Aboard

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070213-11
Release Date: 2/13/2007 1:53:00 PM

By Ensign Lauren Schneider, USS McInerney Public Affairs

USS MCINERNEY, At Sea (NNS) -- Following support to the seizure of 2.3 tons of contraband with the assistance of Costa Rica in early January, USS McInerney (FFG 8) welcomed several Costa Rican government officials in mid-January to greet and congratulate the crew on a successful interdiction.

After meeting with the Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Patrick Holub, and congratulating each other on the first joint counter-narco operation between the U.S. Navy and Costa Rica, the visitors were taken on a tour by various members of ship’s company. They were shown McInerney’s Combat Information Center, bridge, and decks.

Operations Specialist 2nd Class Jose Ramiro, who served as a translator, said, “I never thought our bust would have such international implications. Though they are never routine, this one didn’t start off as big as it grew to be. It was exciting to be a part of history like this. I also liked the fact that [members of the Costa Rican] government [were] interested enough to come out and visit us. It made me realize that we do have a very capable ship and is very impressive to others, judging by their reactions.”

With a total of 5.8 tons of seized contraband and successful meetings with both Colombian Navy and Costa Rican officials before their fifth month of deployment, McInerney proved to be a valuable asset in this counter-narco terrorism effort.

McInerney is deployed under the operational control of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command as part of a Joint/Inter-Agency Task force conducting counter-narcotics trafficking operations in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.