By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Byron C. Linder, Det. Sailors of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) provided needed personnel, repair parts, food stores and mail to USS Lassen (DDG 82), March 15. At sunrise, the two warships met in the and commenced vertical replenishment at sea (VERTREP). The embarked team of Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron Light (HSL) 51 provided helo support to move the goods. John S. McCain's Supply Department arranged for the delivery to the Lassen due to Lassen's short-notice operational tasking. Supply Officer, Lt. Todd Malaki, John S. McCain, noted the ship's ability to fill a role normally assigned to a replenishment ship was efficiently executed. "This was planned in a quick e-mail," Malaki said.
