The multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) and her crew of approximately 1,100 Sailors returned home Dec. 22 from nearly three months deployed to U.S. Southern Command area of focus, wrapping up Southern Partnership Station (SPS) -Amphib 2009. Wasp deployed Oct. 4 from Naval Station Norfolk. Working alongside Mayport-based Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 40 and Security Cooperation Marine Air-Ground Task Force (SCMAGTF) they worked to build interoperability and cooperation between U.S.

Military Sealift Command combat stores ship USNS San Jose (T-AFS 7) marked the close of 39 years of service to the Navy fleet in a shipboard ceremony Dec. 18 in Pearl Harbor. The event paid tribute to the ship and the hundreds of sailors and civil service mariners who have served as its crew over the past three decades, ensuring that San Jose played its part in keeping the U.S.

Sailors and Marines aboard the Navy's newest Amphibious Assault Ship returned to port Dec.

Air Department Sailors aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) are working toward carrier flight deck certification during the December underway period. The flight deck certification is a two-day process to conduct flight deck drills demonstrating Air Department can safely handle all emergency situations such as an aircraft fire or crashes on the landing area. The first day consists of day launching, day recovery and taxi drills during the night. Day two of the flight deck certification is day and night launch and recovery of the squadron aircrafts.

Sailors and Marines of the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) completed a successful seven-month deployment Dec. 8 when USS Bataan (LHD 5) and USS Ponce (LPD 15) arrived at Norfolk Naval Station and USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43) returned to Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek, Va. "Completing a successful deployment and bringing all of the Sailors and Marines safely back home to their families accomplished one of my major goals," said Capt. Paul McElroy, commander of the Bataan ARG.

The U.S. Navy and the National Park Service hosted a joint memorial ceremony at Kilo Pier on Naval Station (NAVSTA) Pearl Harbor to commemorate the 68th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor Dec. 7. More than 2,000 people attended the event, including 45 survivors of the bombing, which took the U.S. by surprise 68 years ago. The theme of this year's ceremony was "But Not in Shame." To observe the start of the attack at 7:55 a.m., the Pearl Harbor-based guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70) blew the ship's whistle, which commenced a moment of silence.

The Navy's first littoral combat ship (LCS), USS Freedom (LCS 1), has successfully completed another major milestone in preparation for her upcoming maiden deployment. Freedom conducted independent ship deployment training and certification at sea from Nov. 13-21, operating with ships from the USS Dwight D.

                The Navy will christen its newest attack submarine Missouri, Saturday, Dec. 5, during an 11 a.m. EST ceremony at General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton, Conn.   Sen.

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