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| USS Peleliu (Wiki Info - Image: Wiki Commons) |
By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Ryan J. Batchelder, USS Peleliu Public Affairs
SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- The amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5) will end nearly 35 years of service during a decommissioning ceremony scheduled for 10 a.m. at Pier #7 at Naval Base San Diego, March 31.
The last general-purpose amphibious assault ship of the Tarawa class, Peleliu's decommissioning marks the end of a career comprising multiple deployments to U.S. 7th and 5th Fleet, humanitarian efforts and peacekeeping missions.
Capable of launching a coordinated air and sea attack from one platform, Peleliu has conducted 17 deployments, 178,051 flight operations, served 57,983 personnel and steamed approximately 1,011,946 nautical miles since being commissioned May 3, 1980 in Pascagoula, Mississippi.
Significant in its history, Peleliu played a critical part in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom after the events of Sept. 11, 2001. Peleliu was the first ship in the Global War on Terror to deploy Marines to the beach in support of operations in Afghanistan.
Capt. Paul Spedero will be the last in the long line of 23 commanding officers. Cmdr. Donald Hudson, Peleliu's executive officer, will make up the final decommissioning chain of command.
After the decommissioning process is complete, Peleliu will be towed from San Diego to Pearl Harbor to join the reserve fleet.
Named for the Battle of Peleliu in World War II, the ship will be placed in an inactive reserve status and moored alongside the class's namesake USS Tarawa (LHA 1).
Peleliu's motto, "Pax Per Potens," will stand long after its decommissioning as a testament to the ship's legacy of providing "Peace Through Power."