Updated: 6:22 p.m. July 3, 2014
The guided-missile destroyer USS Howard is returned to its San Diego home port Thursday after a seven-month deployment.
The vessel and its crew of 300 took part in exercises off South Korea, served with the aircraft carrier USS George Washington, conducted anti- submarine operations and what the Navy calls “theater security cooperation events.”
The deployment, which started Dec. 2, included a four-day visit to Manila in the Philippines.
“Howard represented the nation in the Seventh Fleet during exercises and operations while strengthening relationships with our allies and regional partners,” said Cmdr. John Fay, the commanding officer. “It’s satisfying to think of the successes we enjoyed and great to return home to family and friends.”
Elizabeth Dalo told 10News that her son has been gone for a long time and missed a lot at home.
“It was his first birthday away from home, first Christmas away from home. We need to catch up, do a lot of catching up,” Dalo said.
The destroyer is named in honor of Marine Corps 1st Sgt. Jimmie E. Howard, a combat veteran of both Korea and Vietnam who was awarded the Medal of Honor, Silver Star and three Purple Hearts during his 27 years of service.
Following his retirement in 1972, he worked at a San Diego Veterans Affairs office and was an assistant football coach at Point Loma High School. He died in 1993 and is buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery.
— City News Service