Training Support Center Great Lakes (TSC) celebrated the 21st birthday of a ship the bears the same name as a barracks housing apprentice school students August 15.

Staff and students held a cake cutting ceremony for the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6).

“USS Bonhomme Richard namesake has a long history dating back to 1779,” said TSC Commanding Officer Capt. David Dwyer. “Today, BEQ 830, the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) named barracks here in Great Lakes, will celebrate the 21st anniversary of her commissioning.  An important part of what we do here with our new accession Sailors is to teach them naval heritage, to include ensuring they know the tradition and history of the ship they live in, and to always be proud of their ship. Celebrating this anniversary is just another great way to instill pride in what we do, and celebrate with the ship’s fantastic crew of Sailors and Marines in San Diego, California.”

Commissioned Aug. 15, 1998, USS Bonhomme Richard is the third ship to bear the name. The ship is a Wasp-class multipurpose amphibious assault ship homeported in San Diego, California. The ship's mission is to embark, deploy and land elements of a Marine Landing Force in amphibious assault operations by helicopter, landing craft, amphibious vehicle or any combination thereof.

"It was great to see all of the students out here celebrating the 21st birthday of the USS Bonhomme Richards mirroring the celebration of Sailors serving on the ship in San Diego, California,” said Navy Military Training Instructor Damage Controlman 1st Class Jeffrey Davis, leading petty officer of the USS Bonhomme Richards Barracks. “We dedicate ourselves to passing on to the next generation of Sailors our proud history and the courage and commitment of those they will be carrying on the tradition for in the future. Today was one of those teachable moments."

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