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Fort Story News

25 Jul 2022

USS Whidbey Island Decommissioned

USS Whidbey Island (LSD 41) (Photo: Rachael L. Leslie / U.S. Navy)

Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship namesake, USS Whidbey Island (LSD 41) held a decommissioning ceremony at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Va. on July 22 before its inactivation next month.The ship’s decommissioning ceremony was held on the quay wall, alongside the moored USS Whidbey Island. The ceremony was attended by nine of her previous Commanding Officers and over 50 plankowners. “The last crew of Whidbey Island performed with great dignity and resiliency,” said Cmdr. Matt Phillips, the ship’s final commanding officer.

29 Mar 2015

USNS Spearhead Delivers Materials to Ghana Charities

The U.S. Navy’s joint high-speed vessel USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1) delivered wheelchairs and medical supplies to Ghanaian non-governmental organizations March 26, 2015. The materials were delivered under the U.S. Navy’s Project Handclasp program, which accepts humanitarian, educational and goodwill donations, contributed by the American private sector, and transports them to foreign nations on a space-available basis aboard U.S. Navy vessels. Spearhead delivered 168 of these three-wheeled, hand-cranked wheelchairs, with 154 being adult sized and 14 being for children. The shipment weighed more than 15,600 pounds, with an estimated total worth of $42,000. The humanitarian items are from charities in the United States.

26 Mar 2015

100 Yrs and Ticking - USCG Salutes

They were dubbed the greatest generation, and after spending an hour or so with Linwood Thumm, known more affectionately as "Tick," it's easy to understand why. Two weeks shy of his 100th birthday, his recollection of his service in the Coast Guard during WWII are as vivid as if he just left the battle. Humble about his service yet excited to share his memories, this is just a brief glimpse into the story of Tick Thumm. Thumm’s military service began in 1942 with the U.S. Navy, when he answered America's call after WWII broke out. His service in the Navy, however, didn't extend any further than the entrance process when, according to Thumm, he was turned down because he didn't have three matching molars. Not willing to take no for an answer, Thumm turned to the U.S. Coast Guard.

12 Dec 2014

US Navy Tests Unmanned Underwater Vehicle

The GhostSwimmer vehicle, developed by the Chief of Naval Operations Rapid Innovation Cell project Silent NEMO, undergoes testing at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek - Fort Story. Project Silent NEMO is an experiment which explores the possible uses for a biomimetic device developed by the Office of Naval Research. (U.S. Navy photo by Edward Guttierrez III)

The U.S. Navy completed tests on the GhostSwimmer unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story (JEBLC-FS), Dec. 11. GhostSwimmer is the latest in a series of science-fiction-turned-reality projects developed by the chief of naval operations' Rapid Innovation Cell (CRIC) project, Silent NEMO, an experiment that explores the possible uses for biomimetic, unmanned underwater vehicles in the fleet. Over the past several weeks, Boston Engineering's tuna-sized device has been gathering data at JEBLC-FS on tides…

06 Dec 2014

73rd Anniversary of Pearl Harbor Attack

Dec. 7, 1941 is a day that America will never forget. Claiming more than 2,400 American lives, 21 ships sunk or damaged, and more than 300 aircraft lost, the attack on Pearl Harbor goes down as one of the worst attacks on American soil. The Japanese attack came in two waves. During the first wave, six Japanese carriers launched 181 planes carrying torpedo bombers, dive bombers, horizontal bombers and fighters. Only 30 minutes later 170 more aircraft launched their attack on the Harbor. The U.S. was able to repair all but three of the ships sunk or damaged. The three ships that were beyond repair were USS Arizona (BB-39), USS Oklahoma (BB-37), and USS Utah (AG-16). This year marks the 73rd anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

23 Oct 2014

Chief of Naval Personnel Visits Naval Special Warfare

Chief of Naval Personnel (CNP) Vice Adm. Bill Moran visited Naval Special Warfare (NSW) Sailors during an all hands call on Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Oct. 21. Moran discussed a variety of topics, including enlisted retention boards, retirement, and compensation. "I don't often get to see and talk with NSW Sailors for a lot of reasons, mostly because you're always deployed," Moran said. One of the topics Moran addressed was Sailors' concerns about the possibility of another enlisted retention board (ERB). The ERB was a manpower reduction tool that resulted in a force reduction of nearly 3,000 Sailors in 2011. Moran said, "We didn't do a very good job communicating about the ERB and the program was not executed very well.

11 Aug 2014

Cutter Vigorous Arrives at New Home Port

(U.S. Coast Guard photo by 2nd Class Walter Shinn)

Coast Guard Cutter Vigorous marked its official arrival at its new homeport at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Virginia Beach, Friday. Vigorous is the first of two Medium Endurance Cutters from Cape May, New Jersey to be relocated to Little Creek. The Coast Guard Cutter Dependable is scheduled to arrive in 2015. “Cape May was a wonderful home for Vigorous over the past 21 years and we thank the community for its steadfast support,” said Cmdr. Terry Johns, Vigorous commanding officer.

04 May 2014

USNS Spearhead First Deployment Judged a Success

The U.S. Navy informs that its first -in-class joint high-speed vessel USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1) has left the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations, after more than three months of operating in the European and African theaters. "I am extremely proud of the work Spearhead has achieved in theater, primarily for her efforts in supporting Africa Partnership Station and the pillars that program represents," said Vice Adm. Phil Davidson, commander, U.S. 6th Fleet, who recently visited the ship during a port visit in Gabon. "I commend the Sailors and civilians who performed superbly over the course of their work here in U.S. 6th Fleet. Since entering the theater in late January…

01 Apr 2014

MACC Registration to Open April 3

Registration for the Multi-Agency Craft Conference (MACC) 2014 will open at 12:00 EDT on Thursday, April 3. To comply with new government regulations for access to military installations, there are certain pieces of information ASNE will require when an individual registers. Everyone wishing to attend MACC 2014 in any capacity - from exhibitors to attendees to presenters - must register. The registration rate for attendees and exhibit personnel is $235. ASNE offers complimentary registration for active-duty military and government employees (non-contractors). Exhibiting companies will receive two complimentary registrations per exhibit space purchased. •    U.S. •    U.S. •    U.S.

11 Feb 2013

Stiletto Maritime Demonstration Program hosts Capability Demonstration

The Stiletto Maritime Demonstration Program conducted its first Capability Demonstration, Jan. 14-27. The initial demonstration was hosted for the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) off the Virginia coast near the Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek, Fort Story in Virginia Beach, Va. The Capability Demonstration provided NECC Sailors an opportunity to observe new technologies developed by industry in a realistic military maritime environment. The program also provided the 15 participating industry partners an opportunity to receive immediate end-user feedback toward increasing technology readiness levels. “Warfighting needs are rapidly changing…

13 Nov 2012

US Navy Hurricane Sandy Relief Ships Homeward Bound

USS Wasp Off NY: Photo credit US Marines

The three amphibious ships supporting Hurricane Sandy relief efforts off the coast of New York & New Jersey return to their homeports in Virginia. Operations in support of relief have shifted into the recovery phase and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are fully operational and providing sustained assistance as requested by state and local authorities. Navy and Marine Corps forces aboard the ships systematically transitioned the services…

26 Jun 2006

Navy Teams with Army for Joint Humanitarian Exercise

Several units of the recently established Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) and Naval Beach Group 2 are participating in the combined DELMAR/Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (JLOTS) exercise on Fort Story, Virginia Beach, Va., in June. The exercise began June 5 and combines active-duty and reserve service members from various Navy and Army commands. The exercise is organized by U.S. Army Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC). During the exercise scenario, these units must work together to provide humanitarian assistance to an area simulated as devastated by a natural disaster. These same skills could be employed if a massive terrorist attack disrupts existing port facilities. "This is like a mission of presence," said Cmdr.