Last modified Wed., June 14, 2006 - 04:04 PM
Originally created Thursday, June 15, 2006

Vicksburg Is Back!

From USS Vicksburg Public Affairs

IT2 Melvin Seymur of USS Vicksburg (CG 69) hugs his kids, Ava and Ivy, while his wife, Heather, stands by his side. USS Vicksburg (CG 69) returned to NS Mayport Sunday after it surged in support of the Global War on Terror (GWOT) and worked with allies during their five-month deployment to detect, disrupt and deny international terrorist organizations the use of maritime environment. The ship and HSL-42 Detachment Two crew departed Mayport on Jan. 26.
Photos by PH2 Susan Cornell

USS Vicksburg (CG 69) returned to Naval Station Mayport Sunday after a high-tempo, five-month surge deployment to the Horn of Africa (HOA) and the Arabian Gulf.

Vicksburg surged as a demonstration of the Navy's Fleet Response Plan in support of the Global War on Terror. The Mayport-based cruiser was initially sent to conduct Anti-Piracy operations off the Horn of Africa, an area that has become highly unstable and a haven for piracy and international terrorist organizations.

The ship got underway in late January, making a stormy winter crossing of the Atlantic in company with USS Roosevelt(DDG 80) and USS Oak HIll (LSD 51). Vicksburg's first stop was Augusta Bay, Sicily, where its Sailors got a chance to visit the nearby cities of Catania, Taormina and Sigonella.

From there, the ship transited the Suez Canal and arrived in the Fifth Fleet Area of Operations. Soon thereafter, Vicksburg and its embarked helicopter detachment from HSL-42 assisted in search and recovery efforts following the fatal mid-air collision of two Marine Corps CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopters in the Gulf of Aden near the country of Djibouti.

CTT 2nd Class Matt Rossen proposes to Christine Novotny on the pier in Mayport after returning with the USS Vicksburg.

The Vicksburg team spent much of February and early March on station off the Horn of Africa (HOA), conducting Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) boardings of suspect vessels and deterring piracy. Capt. Chip Swicker relieved Capt. Tom Shannon as commanding officer in March, and Shannon returned to the U.S. to prepare for his new job on the Joint Staff in the Pentagon. Vicksburg remained on station off the HOA until a scheduled port call in Bahrain. Following this port visit, the ship was ordered to the Northern Arabian Gulf to assume duties as Plane Guard and Shotgun for the Navy's newest aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76).

Sailors man the rails and await the brow as it is lifted into place to commence liberty.

Vicksburg was Reagan's bodyguard for the entire month of April, until pulling in to the port of Jebel Ali in the United Arab Emirates for a well-deserved week of maintenance and liberty. Following this fascinating visit to Jebel Ali and the Emirate of Dubai, Vicksburg transited the Strait of Hormuz and participated in Exercise Khunjar Hadd 2006 with warships from France and the Royal Navy of Oman, helping to build solid relationships with our regional allies and partners.

Following a brief stop at the British base of Gibraltar for fuel, Vicksburg wentto Newport, Rhode Island to pick up family members and friends for a three-day Tiger Cruise to Mayport before returning to its homeport.