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September 5, 2009

The Virginian-Pilot
© September 5, 2009

By Jaedda Armstrong

NORFOLK

The guided-missile destroyer Stout is due back today from a deployment that took it to the Black Sea - a region that drew worldwide attention last summer when fighting broke out between Russia and Georgia.

The Stout's crew members visited two ports in Georgia as well as Romania and Bulgaria, training with local sailors and coast guardsmen.

They didn't encounter any ships from Russia, Cmdr. Mark Oberley said, and they got a warm welcome from the other three nations.

Oberley said they weren't in a position to feel any leftover tension from the incident. The crew of 300 was more focused on strengthening and maintaining ties with foreign allies, he said.

The crew held receptions for the Georgian president and Romanian officials on the Stout. They also painted a senior citizens home and volunteered at schools and orphanages while in port.

Despite what many may believe, Oberley said, there is still "lots of good will given to Americans out in the international community."

The Stout was gone for six months and also patrolled in the Mediterranean, Aegean and Ionian seas.

This was the ship's first deployment with the ballistic missile defense system - a technology designed to track and destroy missiles that can travel more than 600 miles, threatening military and civilian targets.

The Stout, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, is one of two East Coast ships with that capability.

Jaedda Armstrong, (757) 222-5846, jaedda.armstrong@pilotonline.com