USS De Wert Returns From Deployment

The officers and crew of De Wert fruitfully and aggressively carried out their mission in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, tracking and pursuing drug-trafficking vessels, as well as enjoying port visits in several beautiful South American countries. The highlights of the deployment include a port visit to Cartagena, Columbia, passing through the Panama Canal, making history with a liquid cocaine bust, and hosting a reception for American ambassadors in Kingston, Jamaica.

De Wert anchored off the coast of Cartagena, Columbia, on July 31 and the officers and crew immediately began enjoying the first South American port visit of their CNT deployment. Two small liberty boats working nearly around the clock transported Sailors to the pier where eager drivers waited to carry De Wert personnel into the heart of their beautiful city.

Lt. Matt Richter, USS DeWert Operations Officer, stands with his wife Tonya and daughter Katie after returning to Mayport Dec. 21.

Sailors spent the three-day port visit touring the historical "old city," the modernized "new city," and partaking in discounted MWR tours. MWR offered two highly-acclaimed tours for De Wert personnel. A scuba diving tour included a short boat ride to a nearby island where participants thoroughly enjoyed two dives, followed by a free lunch and time to relax in the shade in hammocks after spending nearly all day in the water.

"The scuba diving tour was absolutely amazing; hopefully there are diving tours available at every port visit," said Pilot Lt. Cmdr. Kristen Bowden said.

An all-inclusive beach tour included a two-hour boat ride to a secluded beach. On the voyage to and from the beach, passengers could either relax in the air conditioned lower level of the boat, or receive a free dance lesson from native Colombian dancers in the open-air top deck. Upon arrival at the beach, passengers were offered an unlimited amount of delicious food and beverages for their entire stay, as well as free use of kayak and snorkeling gear. Whether they spent the day lounging in beach chairs and playing beach volleyball or swimming under the ocean with beautiful sea creatures, De Wert Sailors unanimously agreed that the MWR scuba and beach tours were money well spent.

New dad, GSESN Thomas Donnelly, sees his new five-week-old daughter Bayleigh for the first time after coming home to Mayport Dec. 21. New mom Shannon Donnelly holds the baby.

In addition to relaxing and having fun, De Wert practiced Theater Security Cooperation (TSC) in Columbia. The wardroom hosted a lunch for the Commanding Officer of the naval base in Cartagena and the Commanding Officer of Columbian ship A.R.C. Almirante Padilla, and offered tours of the ship. De Wert officers and crew also took the time to educate Columbian Sailors on certain practices of the United States Navy. They received briefs on Replenishments at Sea (RAS) and Damage Control practices, and were even taught how to operate certain pieces of firefighting and dewatering equipment. Columbian Sailors also thoroughly enjoyed a tour of the SH-60B helicopter given by personnel from De Wert's air detachment and the opportunity to operate Night Vision Goggles (NVGs).

Although only a few weeks into their deployment, De Wert Sailors were rejuvenated by beautiful Cartagena and looked forward to passing through the Panama Canal to plunge into their counter-narco terrorism mission.

In the early morning hours of Aug. 5, De Wert emerged from the Panama Canal into the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Once through the Canal, De Wert remained busy and focused on catching and impeding the success of illegal drug-carrying vessels.

Their determination and dedication to the mission paid off: on Sept. 27, De Wert became the second U.S. Naval vessel in history to make a liquid cocaine drug bust. Upon receiving intelligence suggesting Columbian vessel Mar Pacifico possessed narcotics, De Wert covertly tracked and boarded the vessel via Unannounced Nighttime Boarding (UNB) in the early-morning hours of Sept. 26.

Commanding Officer and family.

Members of De Wert's Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) team and Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) 104 searched the vessel for drugs for more than 24 hours. Their persistence earned great dividends. Despite desperate attempts by the fishing vessel to keep the drug hidden, De Wert found approximately nine metric tons of liquid cocaine in a hidden 2,500-gallon fuel onboard the dilapidated vessel.

After a few more months of maintaining a threatening presence to criminals on the high seas and port visits to Panama, El Salvador, and a brief stop in Costa Rica, De Wert geared up to return home. Just after passing through the Panama Canal again on its way home, De Wert pulled into Kingston, Jamaica to host a highly-visible and extremely important reception for American ambassadors and various dignitaries in the country.

The sun shone brightly without a cloud in the sky as Culinary Specialists and Food Service Attendants, dressed smartly in crisp white shirts and black trousers, arranged trays of delicious hors d'oeuvres and beverages on the flight deck of De Wert on Dec. 10. The refreshing December breeze kept everyone in good spirits as the officers and crew set up for the reception and anticipated the arrival of the evening's guests, Brenda LaGrange Johnson, U. S. Ambassador to Jamaica, and her husband, Howard Johnson.

The first guest arrived at precisely 4 p.m., commencing a continuous stream of arrivals for the next half hour. Johnson and Mr. Johnson, stepped off the brow and onto De Wert's flight deck as Seaman(SW) Matthew Wilson, De Wert's Honors Boatswain's Mate, dressed smartly in his service dress whites and accompanied by eight side boys, piped her arrival. Others who attended the reception included His Excellency and Mrs. Denis Kingsley (High Commissioner of Canada), His Excellency and Mrs. Jurgen Engel (German Ambassador), His Excellency Mr. Jesus Silva (Spanish Ambassador), Her Excellency Leonora Rueda (Mexican Ambassador), retired Rear Adm. Hardley Lewin (former Chief of Staff of the Jamaican Defense Force), Mr. and Mrs. Edward Wehrli (Consulate General), and Todd Schafer, Director of Programs and Resources for United States Southern Command, a member of the Senior Executive Service.

According to Ensign Zachary Yoffe, "The evening really put our mission in perspective and it was great to talk to some of the people who are completely in support of what we do. It's nice to be reminded that what we do while on deployment helps better their futures."

"It was a highly enjoyable evening under a perfect Jamaican sunset, and the opportunity to socialize with the Ambassadors of so many nations was extraordinary," Lt.j.g. Lauren Sonnelitter said.

Mr. Johnson and a few other guests also enjoyed a tour given by De Wert's Combat Systems Officer, Lt. Kris Kell.

"This ship and her crew are awe-inspiring!" Mr. Johnson said.

After the reception, De Wert quickly headed to Port Everglades, Fla., where it picked up "Tigers" (family members and friends of the officers and crew) for the two-day cruise to Mayport. The guests took tours of the ship's pilot house and engineering spaces, took turns shooting the 50-caliber gun mounted on the flight deck, and donned ear plugs with eyes gleaming to witness the firing of the MK 75 76-mm deck gun. The Tigers also thoroughly enjoyed a "Steel Beach Picnic" with hamburgers, hot dogs, and sodas, and movies shown each night on the flight deck.

Despite the fun and new experiences, the Tigers and Sailors alike were thrilled to return home just in time for the holidays.