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October 20, 2009

By Kate Wiltrout
The Virginian-Pilot
© October 20, 2009

NORFOLK

The guided-missile destroyer James E. Williams returned to Norfolk after a busy six-month deployment that included chasing pirates and accompanying submarines through a vital waterway, the Navy announced.

Leader: Cmdr. Paul Marquis

Crew size: 307

Location of deployment: Mediterranean Sea, Arabian Gulf, Indian Ocean

Deployed: April 20

Highlights: The James E. Williams finished its third six-month deployment to the Middle East, traveling 36,900 nautical miles over 183 days and making six trips through the Suez Canal.

The ship intercepted illicit cargo traffickers and smugglers in the southern Red Sea, escorted two U.S. submarines through the canal, and chased smugglers off the coast of Oman and Pakistan. The Williams helped find and guard two pirated merchant ships and participated in anti-piracy missions in the waters off Somalia.

The crew made port visits to Haifa, Israel; Aqaba, Jordan; and Rota, Spain.