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September 21, 2009

By Cindy Clayton
The Virginian-Pilot
© September 21, 2009

NORFOLK 

The guided-missile destroyer Bainbridge is scheduled to return to Norfolk today.

The ship deployed in February as part of the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group.

While at sea, the ship played a role in rescuing Richard Phillips, captain of the Maersk Alabama, who was taken hostage by Somali pirates off the coast of Africa.

The ship was attacked April 8 and after a standoff that lasted several days, Navy SEALs fired on the pirates from the Bainbridge, killing three of them and rescuing Phillips.