San Antonio Concludes Maiden Deployment

NORFOLK (NNS) -- The amphibious transport dock ship USS San Antonio (LPD 17), part of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, returned to Naval Station Norfolk March 27, concluding the ship's maiden seven-month deployment.

San Antonio left Norfolk in August and launched the legacy of the San Antonio-class amphibious assault ship as a technologically advanced warship.

"The crew did an exceptional job in overcoming a myriad of challenges to complete all assigned missions during a very robust deployment," said Cmdr. Eric Cash, San Antonio's commanding officer. "The crew always believed in the crew. That's the mindset of winners, warriors and champions, and that is the mindset of San Antonio's Sailors and Marines."

San Antonio participated in several bilateral training exercises with foreign navies and was selected as the inaugural flagship for Combined Task Force (CTF) 151 for staging international counter-piracy operations.

This was also the maiden deployment for several Sailors aboard San Antonio.

"The opportunity the Navy has given me has been life altering," said Yeomen 2nd Class Henry Gauthier. "Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined seeing Italy, Turkey, the Middle East, Egypt and Croatia, let alone all in the time span of seven months. This is an experience I will never forget."

The experiences and perseverance of the crew led to the overall success of the deployment.

"I attribute all of the success to the crew," Cash continued. "In all areas through exceptional planning, aggressive coordination, continuous training and well-executed operations, the crew found a way to always get the job done. Once again, it reinforces the fact that the men and women serving in the Navy are some of the best and brightest in America."

For more news from Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, visit www.navy.mil/local/iwoesg/.