Marine working to adopt service dog that protected him in …
USS Ponce as it pulls into Naval Station Norfolk following a seven-month deployment, Dec. 8, 2009.
Advertisement
USS Ponce to make final homecoming
Ship has logged more than 1,601,130 nautical miles
Updated: Thursday, 01 Dec 2011, 1:21 PM EST
Published : Thursday, 01 Dec 2011, 1:19 PM EST
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - USS Ponce (LPD 15) and its crew are making a final return to Naval Station Norfolk December 2 after a final visit to Puerto Rico, her namesake city.
The ship will be decommissioned during a ceremony on March 30, 2012 and then towed to a "bone yard" in Philadelphia. The ship was commissioned on July 10, 1971.
During its career, USS Ponce earned 11 different unit awards and participated in 31 major operation. More than 18,400 sailors and 24,500 Marines have served aboard her deck, and she has been lead by 28 commanding officers. In total, the ship steamed more than 1,601,130 nautical miles.
The ship's current commanding officer is Cmdr. Cole Hays, and USS Ponce has a crew of 28 officers and 332 enlisted sailors.
Email This
Print This
View Story on a Single PageAdvertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement