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USS Chafee Departs Pearl Harbor for Western Pacific Deployment

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090225-15
Release Date: 2/25/2009 10:07:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Robert Stirrup, Commander, Navy Region Hawaii Public Affairs

PEARL HARBOR (NNS) -- More than 300 Sailors aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Chafee (DDG 90) departed Naval Station Pearl Harbor for a scheduled, six-month deployment to the Western Pacific.

Friends and family waved goodbye from the pier as they watched their Sailors aboard Chafee depart for the Pacific Ocean.

"It's bittersweet to have him leave right now, but it's something that I'm used to. It will be great when he gets back and have him be able to see his newborn son," said a wife of a Chafee Sailor, who's expecting their first child while the ship is deployed.

"I'm sad to see my husband leave, but I know that this is his job and I can't wait until he gets back," said another wife of a Chafee Sailor.

Cmdr. Heedong Choi, Chafee's commanding officer, was very optimistic about the deployment, noting that the crew was more than ready to fulfill any tasking assigned to them.

"The crew is incredibly proficient and we've completed all of the exercises that have been tasked to us for the upcoming deployment," said Choi. "We are looking forward to providing a forward presence in a very important part of the world as well as conducting training with some of the foreign navies in Southeast Asia."

While leaving loved ones is always difficult, the Sailors are up for any challenges that may lie ahead of them.

"I'm enthused about going on deployment, but at the same time I'm sad about leaving my family," said Storekeeper 1st Class Moises Sanchez. "I'm really looking forward to the port visits as well."

Guided missile destroyers provide multi-mission offensive and defensive capabilities, and can operate independently or as part of carrier battle groups, surface action groups, amphibious ready groups, and underway replenishment groups.