Official U.S. Navy website - Commander Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet

Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - Though the fires of her engines have been stifled, the crewmembers of the USS Crommelin (FFG 37) are sizzling with activity as they undertake the monumental task of taking a naval warship out of service.

USS Crommelin, the 28th ship of the Oliver Hazard Perry class guided-missile frigates, is in the second week of an arduous eight-week decommissioning readiness availability consisting of offloading fuel, shutting down systems, and preparing the ship for its scheduled transfer to the Inactive Ships Maintenance Office.

“Pretty much everything has to be taken off,” said Information Technician 3rd Class Drew Richardson. As an Information Technician, Petty Officer Richardson and his division were charged with moving the ship’s Local Area Network (LAN) from the ship to the berthing barge, the crew’s base of operations for the next two months. “There’s a lot of heavy lifting involved, but everybody helps each other out to get each job done.”

But as the rush of tearing up and breaking down reaches full measure, the Sailors of USS Crommelin get a few rare moments of self-reflection.

“I found an old photo from when I first checked onboard,” said Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Bryce Hadley, holding a picture of a smiling Ensign on the port bridge-wing of Crommelin at sea. “It’s been a long journey. It’s bittersweet.”

USS Crommelin will finish up its thirty years of commissioned service with a decommissioning ceremony on October 26th.