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USS Pasadena Returns to Pearl Harbor

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080502-07
Release Date: 5/2/2008 11:51:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW) Cynthia Clark, Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs

PEARL HARBOR (NNS) -- USS Pasadena (SSN 752) returned to Pearl Harbor Naval Station, April 30, following a six-month deployment to the Western Pacific.

As he greeted his family, fellow submariners and other guests, Cmdr. Doug Perry, Pasadena commanding officer, paused to let his crew know how proud he was of the job they did.

"These guys put forth unbelievable effort the day we got underway and every day in between to get back to this pier the same way we left – safe, secure, stealthy and doing great things for the nation," said Perry.

As Pasadena crew members departed the ship to see their families and friends, Electronics Technician 2nd Class (SS) Donald Gibson, had an even bigger surprise for his girlfriend of more than a year - a diamond ring and a proposal.

"I just figured today would be the best time," said Gibson. "I had a lot of time to think out there, so I figured why not today.

Gibson's girlfriend had no idea he was going to use Pasadena's homecoming as the stage for this event. "I'm speechless," she said. "This is the best day of my life."

Pasadena departed Pearl Harbor Oct. 31, for a regularly scheduled six-month deployment. Making the deployment more special for the crew, Pasadena departed with a portion of the cremains of retired Rear Adm. Eugene Bennet Fluckey, who passed away in June 2007, for a burial-at-sea. Fluckey, a Medal of Honor recipient, served as Commander, Submarine Force U.S. Pacific Fleet from 1964-1966. During the six-months, Pasadena made port visits to cities in Guam, Japan and Malaysia.

Pasadena was commissioned in Groton, Conn., Feb. 11, 1989. Pasadena was originally an Atlantic Fleet submarine until moving to San Diego, Calif., in 1990 and ultimately to Pearl Harbor in 1996.

For more news from Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/local/subpac/.