Six Sailors from littoral combat ship (LCS) Crew 109 joined members of the USS Little Rock Association at the museum ship USS Little Rock (CL 92/CLG 4) in Buffalo, N.Y., to perform restoration on the decommissioned ship prior to the start of the summer tourist season.

For 24 years, former Sailors who served aboard the Cleveland-class light cruiser reunite annually to restore and maintain the ship while sharing sea stories and preserving the ship's history. The original Little Rock was commissioned in 1945, and was decommissioned in 1976. The ship was converted to a museum and relocated to the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park in 1980. She is the last remaining Cleveland-class light cruiser.

Sailors from LCS Crew 109, the Warhawgs, traveled from their homeport in Mayport, Florida to assist in the annual restoration project. Crew 109 is made up of a core crew of 50 Sailors and serves as the commissioning crew for future USS Little Rock (LCS 9). The newest Little Rock will be the fifth Freedom-class littoral combat ship, and is scheduled to be commissioned in Buffalo later this year.

"This year has turned out to be a record-setter with respect to the number of participants in the USS Little Rock Association's annual work party," said Art Tilley, former Missile Technician 2nd Class who served aboard Little Rock from 1962-1963. "The additional six active-duty Navy personnel from LCS Crew 109 enabled us to work on more than double the number of projects, including installing weather deck canvas, prepping and painting significant portions of the Missile House exterior, and repositioning several exterior deck drains."

"It goes without saying that this will be a work party which will be remembered by the 'old' crew as unquestionably the most successful working party ever, thanks to the fantastic efforts and the much appreciated can-do attitude of our Crew 109 sailors,"
said Tilley.

"This has been a great opportunity for Sailors from the namesake Little Rock and the future LCS 9 to get together and not only build personal relationships, but also preserve the history of the ship as well," said Cmdr. Paul Burkhart, commanding officer of future Little Rock.

When the newest Little Rock is commissioned, it will mark the first time a U.S. Navy ship is commissioned alongside her decommissioned namesake. This bridging of generations was evident as Sailors from the two ships worked together.

"The opportunity to see their heritage being passed down and perpetuating the legacy from the former crew to the new crew has been a treat for the staff here at the Buffalo Naval," said retired Aviation Hydraulic Structural Mechanic John Branning, a maintenance supervisor for the Buffalo Naval Park. "Not to mention the sheer amount of painting and general material condition upkeep that the two groups have accomplished really helps us. Working parties like these are truly invaluable and having actual active-duty Sailors who have damage control and maintenance training really helps bring in updated view points and technological knowledge that some of us 'old guard' are lacking."

"Meeting and working alongside other Little Rock Sailors was an experience within itself," said Engineman 2nd Class Kyler Ayscue from Crew 109. "Hearing their stories and experiences, it's amazing how even after 40 years or more, our stories can still relate."

In addition to assisting with the restoration and maintenance of the museum ship, LCS Crew 109 Sailors took advantage of their time in Buffalo, visiting patients at the Buffalo VA Medical Center and attending a Buffalo Bisons' baseball game.

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