September 2014 MAINE COASTAL NEWS Page 7. UNITED STATES NAVY NEWS
USS New Hampshire Returns Home from Deployment
By Lt. Timothy Hawkins, Submarine Group 2 Public Affairs
GROTON, CT (NNS) -- Friends and family of USS New Hampshire (SSN 778) were all smiles despite rainy weather Aug. 13 as the Virginia-class attack submarine arrived in Groton, Connecticut, completing a six- month overseas deployment.
New Hampshire departed Naval Sub- marine Base New London on Feb. 11 to conduct maritime operations in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility and made port visits in the United Kingdom and Norway. “New Hampshire’s superb mission execution was vital to national strategic and theater security objectives,” said 6th Fleet commander Vice Adm. Philip Davidson in a message to the crew. “As you return home to family and friends, you can be very proud of a job well done.”
Friends and family gathered in a local meeting hall on the eve of the submarine’s return. Many expressed excitement that the six-month wait was over. Retired Lt. Cmdr. Wendy Chiado said she was looking forward to hugging “the best cook in the Navy.” Her son Culinary Specialist 1st Class Seth Chiado, 27, has been a member of New Hampshire’s crew since 2010. Petty Offi cer Chiado’s mom and dad traveled from Colorado to meet him on the pier alongside his wife Sarah, two year old daughter, and two aunts. Sarah and Petty Offi cer Chiado’s other two kids, ages 8 and 10, were unable to greet dad because they were at camp. But Sarah said the kids closely tracked each passing day of the deployment by marking a calendar to signal one step closer to the end.
For Sarah personally, the end means the return of Petty Offi cer Chiado and his help at home raising their three children, a sentiment New Hampshire’s commanding offi cer understands.
USS New Hampshire is equipped to attack land targets with highly accurate Tomahawk cruise missiles, conduct covert surveillance and support special forces in addition to other warfare missions. The crew of more than 130 Sailors can operate the 377-foot-long vessel at depths greater than 800 feet and speeds in excess of 25 knots when submerged.
New Hampshire was commissioned in October 2008 and is the third Navy ship named for the nation’s ninth state.
Last Vietnam-era SEAL Retires By Chief Mass Communication Specialist (EXW) Brandon Raile, Naval Special War- fare Group 1 Public Affairs
CORONADO, CA (NNS) -- The last active duty SEAL to have served in combat opera- tions during the Vietnam War retired during a ceremony at Coronado, CA, Aug. 14. Master Chief Special Warfare Operator (SEAL) Kirby D. Horrell’s career spanned nearly 47 years. He enlisted in the Navy Nov. 15, 1967 and attended Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) as part of Class 49 shortly thereafter.
Retired Capt. John McTighe, former teammate of Horrell, was a guest speaker for the ceremony and highlighted Horrell’s impact on the on the Naval Special Warfare (NSW) community.
“The accomplishments we’ve made since September 11, 2001 were made upon your actions,” said McTighe. “We’ve built so much on your legacy.”
Despite the personal recognition, Hor- USS NEW HAMPSHIRE returns home to Groton, CT.
rell shied away from discussing his own ac- complishments, and instead focused on the impact of Vietnam-era SEALs, as a whole, on the NSW community. “This ceremony isn’t about me, this is really about all the SEALs who were in Vietnam,” said Horrell. “It’s about all of us who stood shoulder to shoulder fi ghting a very unpopular war. We built the foundation of NSW that everything today stands on.” After being piped over the side with his
wife, Terri, at the ceremony’s conclusion, Horrell asked the other members of Class 49 who were present to join him in being piped over the side as a team. One after another, more than a dozen SEALs fi led across the red carpet to a standing ovation. With that fi nal walk, Horrell concluded his Navy career surrounded by the very people with whom it had begun.
Continued on Page 8.
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