Vice Adm. Jim Kilby, deputy commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, who beforehand served two excursions aboard San Jacinto, presided over the ceremony and supplied keynote remarks.
“After we serve on a ship, it turns into a part of us, I imply who we’re, how we predict, and the way we conduct ourselves.” mentioned Vice Adm. Kilby. “San Jacinto is probably the most formative and vital ship I’ve ever served on. I labored for 5 consecutive commanding officers, as Operations Officers and Government Officer. I owe San Jacinto and lots of of you an unpayable debt of gratitude.”
Capt. Christopher E. Marvin, who served as the 20th and remaining commanding officer of San Jacinto, oversaw a crew of 30 officers and 300 enlisted members, and led the warship throughout their remaining deployment within the Mediterranean Sea as a part of the Harry S. Truman Provider Strike Group in assist of U.S. sixth Fleet and NATO workout routines in 2022.
“The professionalism and warfighting excellence San Jacinto has imparted on those who have served aboard over 35 years will present a permanent legacy and serve the Navy and nation for years to return.”
San Jacinto is the tenth Ticonderoga-Class cruiser, and the third warship within the Navy named for the Battle of San Jacinto. The primary San Jacinto was a frigate inbuilt 1851, fought within the Civil Battle for the Union, and was offered in 1871. The second San Jacinto (CVL 30) was an plane service that was commissioned Nov. 15, 1943, fought in WWII and was decommissioned March 1, 1947.
The San Jacinto’s development started Oct. 5, 1984, at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Her keel was laid July 24, 1985. She was launched on Nov. 14, 1986, and christened Jan. 24, 1987 by the warship’s sponsor, Dr. Wendy Lee Gramm, spouse of United States Senator from Texas, Phil Gramm.
San Jacinto was commissioned on Jan. 23, 1988, in Houston, Texas, by then-Vice President George H.W. Bush, who himself served aboard the second San Jacinto (CVL 30) throughout World Battle II.
Since her maiden deployment in 1989, the warship has demonstrated the fight credibility of our Navy and has served as an exemplar for the Navy’s mission to defend freedom, protect financial prosperity, and preserve the seas open and free.
In August 1990, she executed short-fused deployment in assist of Operation Desert Defend, the place she served as Pink Sea Battle Power Anti-Air Warfare Commander and launched the primary Tomahawk Cruise missiles ever fired in fight through the opening salvos of Operation Desert Storm.
Different operation highlights embrace: instantly supporting Operations Southern Watch, Inherent Resolve, and Iraqi Freedom; counter terrorism operations following the September 11 assaults; varied maritime interdiction and interception operations; humanitarian help and catastrophe reduction efforts in addition to a sustained deal with partnership constructing throughout multi-national, Joint, and NATO workout routines.
In January 2020, she deployed as part of the Dwight D. Eisenhower strike group to the Arabian Sea, breaking the U.S. Navy file for consecutive days at sea at 206.
The title San Jacinto honors the April 21, 1836 battle by the San Jacinto River in Texas, the place Gen. Sam Houston and his tremendously outnumbered Texas troopers received independence for the Republic of Texas, decisively defeating Gen. Santa Anna and his 1,200-1,500 man Mexican Army. Houston made an eloquent speech to his troops, closing with inspiring phrases, “Victory is definite! … Bear in mind the Alamo!”
Embodying that very same toughness, grit, and tenacity, San Jacinto Sailors adopted this identical mantra.
“All through her service, San Jacinto executed 16 deployments, many availabilities, and as many coaching cycles. She was upgraded with the newest fight techniques, her crew professionally skilled over her life to proceed to be a real lynchpin in our Fleet,” mentioned Kilby. “By my tough estimates she has had over 6,000 Sailors serve on her and steamed over 500,000 nautical miles throughout deployments. She earned 15 Battle E’s as a testomony to her sustained excellence. San Jacinto’s legacy is a tribute to her crews, all of us, she definitely lived as much as her motto, “Victory is Sure.”
Within the warship’s storied 35 years of service, her crew has been awarded the Chief of Naval Operations Commendation, Humanitarian Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Commendation, Secretary of the Navy Letter of Commendation, International Battle on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Navy Unit Commendation, Presidential Unit Quotation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, and Navy E Ribbon.
San Jacinto can be inactivated and towed to the Navy’s Inactive Ship Upkeep Facility in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania the place they are going to be in a Logistic Help Asset (LSA) standing.
For extra information from Commander, Naval Floor Power Atlantic, go to www.navy.mil/native/cnsp/, https://www.dvidshub.internet/unit/COMNAVSURFLANT, and https://www.surflant.usff.navy.mil/.
