Welcome Home USS DeWert

Hard rains didn't keep hundreds of family members from lining the pier to welcome home their Sailors who had spent 163 days away from home, traveled more than 34,941 nautical miles, intercepted 2,000 kilograms of cocaine, eight countries, two transits through the Panama Canal, and exercises with four foreign Navies.

''Our most important accomplishment was adapting to a constantly changing schedule and coming together as Team DeWert to flawlessly execute all assigned tasks without fail,'' said the CMDCM Joseph A. Kunz. ''It was a team effort, and plans were executed on the deckplates. The officers and chiefs worked together to set the ship up for success, but it was the crew that made it happen.''

DeWert began the drug-interdiction portion of the deployment on June 15, accompanied by HSL-44 Detachment Five, also from Mayport, as well as Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachments (LEDET) 405 from Miami, Fla.

Only a few weeks after getting underway, DeWert received tasking to intercept a ''go-fast,'' or a small drug-smuggling vessel off the coast of Central America. The joint effort by DeWert, the LEDET, and the embarked helicopter, resulted in an all-night chase that led to the seizure of 38 bales of cocaine, weighing approximately 2,000 kilograms.

Although waterlogged and smeared, a welcome home sign made by family members, and displayed on USS DeWert, still reads ''Welcome Home.'' Photo by Paige Gnann

OS2 John E. Schill played an important role during the cruise as one of the ship's Anti-submarine Tactical Air Controllers (ASTAC).

''I controlled the Helo from the ship, and when we had a suspect vessel, I told the helo where to go,'' Schill said. ''DeWert was down there to deter drug-smugglers, and I helped with that.''

During a mid-deployment maintenance period back home in Mayport, Cmdr. Mark J. DeClue took command of DeWert and carried the ship through the UNITAS portion of its deployment.

UNITAS is designed to increase understanding between foreign navies and improve readiness and interoperability between the U.S. and South American militaries. The various exercises in traditional at-sea warfare areas such as undersea, anti-air, and anti-surface, also build friendship and professionalism for the participants.

With Capt. Dave Costa, Commander Destroyer Squadron Six, embarked as U.S. Task Group Commander and the John L. Hall alongside, DeWert participated in training exercises for ship handling, navigation, communications and weapons firing with warships from Spain, Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina.

Four officers from DeWert had the unique opportunity to spend the underway portion of UNITAS on Spanish and Brazilian ships. Concurrently, DeWert hosted two Uruguayan Officers, including the only female officer in the Uruguayan navy, and an Argentine naval officer. The foreign exchange riders stood bridge watch, fired .50 caliber machine guns and even did a little driving. Damage Control Assistant Ensign Dave Collier prepared a lecture and demonstration on Chemical Biological Radiological Defense (CBR-D), complete with Spanish translation for the riders to take back to their respective navies.

Lt.j.g. Brian Crosby, who went underway on a Spanish refueling ship, SPS Patino, said he felt fortunate for the opportunity and wished more people could have participated.

''It was great to see how foreign navies operate in comparison to the way we do business on DeWert,'' he said. ''Not only was it a good professional experience, it was a good personal experience as well. I got to know some really great people while I was there.''

The deployment to South America also offered DeWert Sailors the opportunity to cross the Equator. More than half of DeWert's crew, including Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Matthew E. Loughlin, were Pollywogs and chose to participate in the traditional ''crossing the line'' ceremony. A Pollywog is a Sailor who has never crossed the Equator.

Another highlight of the deployment was visiting new places and developing friendship ties with other nations. The Sailors enjoyed snorkeling, scuba diving, shopping, golfing and tasting the local flavors during the first few months of deployment in Cozumel and Acapulco, Mexico; Manta, Ecuador; and Panama City, Panama.

''The basketball tournament in Acapulco was one of my favorite times on cruise,'' said EN2 William D. Holley. DeWert's basketball team beat the Mexican Navy's team 114-84. The DeWert team combined with players from USS John L. Hall (FFG-32) won again for a ''championship game'' while in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Supporting U.S. diplomacy strategy, DeWert hosted a reception celebrating Independence Day with the U.S. Ambassador to Ecuador Kristie A. Kenney, and other Ecuadorian guests including families of DeWert's own Ecuadorian-born crewmembers.

Dewert also hosted the U.S. Ambassadors in Uruguay and Argentina and several distinguished visitors from these countries including the Argentine Chief of Naval Operations

DeWert Sailors also reach out to the communities they visited. While in Montevideo, Uruguay, crewmembers from both the John L. Hall and DeWert contributed to the community by painting Centro de Promocion por la Dignidad Humana, a center for single mothers learning skills to keep them and their children off the streets.

The final weeks of the deployment were long and slow as the ship made its transit north compared to the busy days during UNITAS, sailors said. The lower intensity allowed for time to catch up on maintenance and training for some, movies and football for others.