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August 12, 2009

The Virginian-Pilot
© August 12, 2009

By Jaedda Armstrong

The guided missile destroyer Mitscher is due back home Friday, the Navy announced.

Crew size 280 sailors

Leader Cmdr. Sterling Dawley

Location of deployment Far East and Mediterranean Sea

Deployed Jan. 27

Returning August 14

Highlights The Mitscher served as the air defense commander for a Royal Navy Amphibious Task Group headed by the British amphibious assault ship Bulwark. The group participated in an exercise with the Turkish Navy.

While in the Mediterranean Sea, the Mitscher also supported operation Active Endeavor, NATO’s initiative to help deter terrorist activity in the area.

The ship then headed to Indian Ocean and the Far East, where it took part in a maritime defense exposition in Singapore, among other stops.

The crew explored 13 ports including Naples, Italy; Phuket, Thailand; and Valencia, Spain.