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Date Posted: 08:18:10 01/03/02 Thu
Author: Yokosuka bureau chief
Subject: ABOARD THE USS FORD

Thursday, January 3, 2002


By Joseph Giordono, Yokosuka bureau chief
Pacific edition, Thursday, January 3, 2002

ABOARD THE USS FORD — It seems as if there is no such thing as a "routine" deployment anymore.

For ships such as the USS Ford, an Everett, Wash.-based frigate on a six-month deployment to the Western Pacific, that means a new mission: patrolling the Strait of Malacca in search of pirates and terrorists.

Despite being away from their families during the holidays, crewmembers say their role is important in the changing world environment.

"There is $850 million in commerce that goes through the straits every day. We are here to protect that from pirates and terrorists," said Cmdr. David Matawitz, the Ford’s commanding officer. "This is a vital mission. Things are changing so fast. But this is vital to the effort and vital to the world economy."

Matawitz and his crew have been out to sea for about two months of a planned six-month deployment, escorting merchant marine ships through 300 miles of one of the world’s busiest waterways.

Though he declined to discuss mission specifics, Matawitz said in a recent interview that the ship has not yet been forced to board or search a suspect vessel.

"September 11 proved that terrorists can hit anywhere in the world," said Lt. Cmdr. Paul Hugill, the Ford’s executive officer, pointing out that the World Trade Center was a financial, as well as symbolic, target. "Freedom of the seas is vital to U.S. and world interests. That has been the Navy’s historic mission, and that is our current mission."

According to Matawitz, the Ford is part of a multinational effort to patrol the waterway, which separates Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. Matawitz said the Ford worked with ships from Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom and Australia, among others.

Crewmembers said they understand their mission’s importance and know the timing is determined by their regular two-year deployment cycle. Stateside ships generally follow a pattern of 18-months of work and training before deploying on a six-month cruise.

Ford crewmembers just wish their deployment didn’t stretch over every major family holiday — including Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s and Easter.

"It makes it even harder this year, because this is the first year that I’m married," said Petty Officer 1st Class Brian Luckett, who spent a previous tour at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan. "I’ll be on the ship for my birthday, my wife’s birthday and my daughter’s birthday. But that’s the job we are supposed to do."

Luckett says his wife, also in the Navy, will spend the holidays with her parents, who live not far from Everett. But he will have to make do with telephone calls, like the one he made on Thanksgiving.

"I was lucky enough to be able to call, and that helped out a little bit," he said.

Like Luckett, Petty Officer 3rd Class Phillip Smith said his family forgives his holiday absence as long as he calls home.

"It doesn’t matter what time it is or where they are, but as long as I call my family, I’m OK," said the Houston native. "It doesn’t matter if it’s two or three in the morning there, they just want to hear my voice and talk to me for a couple of minutes. I think overall it’s a little easier for the guys like me who are single."

Being on extended deployment also means long periods without mail. When their mail does catch up to them, however, the crew takes anything they can get.

"It doesn’t matter if a letter or a magazine is a month old by that point. It’s something to read and it’s something from home," said Petty Officer 1st Class Gale Vasquez, a member of the San Diego-based helicopter air detachment assigned to the Ford.

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