Home coming September 28 2008
Under Construction
PBR escort for USS Ford FFG 54
It was the honor of the NW Chapter to Celebrate the Life of Patrick O. Ford and those who now serve on the the USS Ford FF 54
The PBR got underway to meet the USS Ford at 7:45 on a beautiful Sunday morning. The crew as the boat got underway: Aft 50 Cal SN Don Dennis Ret, By the Cockpit ENC Alan Stephens Ret, in the Cockpit Bob Brower Army PBR's, Sitting on Bow with his back to us GMG3 Tom Restemayer, Standing GMG2 Rick Worthen. During the escort duty the crew members cross trained and can be seen at various positions.
Some of us supported the operation by sailing aboard the Stori Vagen owned and operated by CWO Dale Duffield Ret. The Stori Vagan acted as Press Boat. On the Bow QMCS Heinz Hickethier, on the Flying Bridge Left CWO Dale Duffield Ret Swift Boats and Right SN Gary Smith
CDR Larry Bissonnette Ret. was dispatched via Tug 836 to be Special Envoy from the NW Chapter to the USS Ford FFG 54. He can be seen giving orders to the PBR from the Tug before boarding the ship. Upon Boarding the ship rendered honors to our Envoy.
As our PBR reported for escort duty the USS Ford rendered full honors to our PBR
Commanding Officer CDR John D. Wilshusen and Command Master Chief Donald E. Eddleman on the bridge of the USS Ford FFG 54
TV screen shot of USS Ford returning home. Note our RBR in the lower left corner
Photo gallery from aboard the USS Ford
EM2 Shipley returning to USS Ford and Two Ombudsmen Cassandra Looking for Dead Head (s) from ship
Lopez and Christina Kohler
USS Ford approaching pier, Tug opens Water Gate Crew at Quarters, Stbd Side
Manning the Rail, Helo Deck Manning the Rail
Story from the Everett Herald
USS Ford returns to Everett
By Justin Arnold
EVERETT -- The USS Ford was given a special escort into port, not by any tugboats or fishing trawlers, but by a lone Vietnam-era Navy river patrol boat and the spirit of its namesake -- Patrick Ford.
Herald Writer
The USS Ford bears the name of the young Navy machine gunner who earned the Navy Cross posthumously for bravery while serving in Vietnam on a river patrol boat on the My Tho River.
As the patrol boat approached the USS Ford, the crew stood on formation on deck honoring the veterans and remembering the proud history of their ship's namesake.
"This is PBR 336, here to escort you home with the spirit of PBR 750," said Heinz Hickethier. "Bravo zulu."
From one Navy crew to another, it was a welcome home with a "well done."
As the USS Ford came into port, the Navy Northwest Regional Band struck up "Anchors Away" while wives, sweethearts and family jostled for the traditional guessing game that takes place as people try to make out their loved one standing on deck.
"Oh, is that him?" said Karen Boyer of Spokane. Her son Brian Boyer serves aboard the USS Ford as a combat electronics officer.
"No, that's not him," Karen Boyer said and resumed her vigil. Her husband Dave Boyer is a sailing enthusiast and was able to come back aboard the USS Ford as a "tiger," a civilian family member who is able to sail on Navy ship during the last leg of its journey back to home port, experiencing a taste of Navy life.
"My husband loves sailing, so for him being able to sail home on the Ford was a dream," Karen Boyer said.
The USS Ford was part of a large training exercise involving the navies of Singapore, Thailand, Republic of the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei. Ship-to-ship searches were conducted as well as exercises to practice combating piracy and trafficking and other forms of terrorism on the sea lanes of Southeast Asia.
As sailors disembarked with roses in hand, Brian Boyer finally made his way across to his mother, etching a statement that would be said a hundred times that morning.
"It's so good to be home," Brian Boyer said. "I'm so glad to be home."
Reporter Justin Arnold: 425-339-3432 or jarnold@heraldnet.com.
