USS Chosin Departs for San Diego after 25 Years in Hawaii

25 March 2016

From Rear Adm. John Fuller

The U.S. Navy announced March 22 that USS Chosin (CG 65) will change its homeport from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, to San Diego to begin the cruiser modernization program in San Diego. The move supports the Navy’s plan to modernize select cruisers to extend their service lives to 40 years, as well as upgrade shipboard combat systems to address current and future warfighting requirements. In this blog, Rear Adm. John Fuller, commander, Navy Region Hawaii and Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific, reflects on Chosin’s service after 25 years in Hawaii.

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PEARL HARBOR, Hawai'i -- When we say “aloha” and “a hui hou” (farewell) to USS Chosin on Friday as the War Dragon leaves Pearl Harbor, we will remember her long and distinguished record of achievement and service.

USS Chosin’s first and only homeport – for the past 25 years – has been here at Pearl Harbor.

Thousands of men and women served aboard USS Chosin over the past quarter century. Chosin Sailors and their proud ship kept the sea lanes open, built strong international partnerships and faithfully stood watch, ready to defend our nation.

Like other ships on our waterfront, Chosin worked with our friends and allies. For example, in 2013, while forward-deployed to the western Pacific, Chosin’s crew participated in Aegis scenario interoperability training with the Republic of Korea Navy.

Chosin gained a reputation over the years for being in the right place to render aid to stranded international mariners, from rescuing Yemeniand Iraqi fishermen in the Arabian Gulf to recovering the Canadian navy ship HMCS Protecteur in the Pacific in 2014 after it experienced a fire.

Over the years, in addition to deploying forward, Chosin participated in numerous Rim of the Pacific and Koa Kai exercises near Pearl Harbor.

Named for the “Chosin Few” Marines of the Korean War at the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, USS Chosin has been a bridge from the past to the present and to the future.

I commend the commanding officer, Capt. Kevin Brand, and Chosin’s men and women for embracing and exemplifying the warrior ethos – they trained and were ready to fight, and thus demonstrated how presence with power preserves peace.

In the weeks leading up to this day, crew and family members demonstrated friendship, camaraderie and community service through a Chosin ohana cruise, a picnic at Foster Point last week and a bike path cleanup March 4 coordinated by chiefs and petty officers with the Hawaii Bicycling League.

I’m impressed by something CTR1 Allen Gray said about the Pearl Harbor Historic Trail cleanup: “I personally feel that it is a big deal for cyclists to have a safe and clean area to ride. This gives the U.S. Navy and the USS Chosin an opportunity to give back to the community in a tangible way.”

For 25 years Sailors aboard USS Chosin, through their achievements and service, gave back to the people of Hawaii and our nation – in a tangible way.

We wish USS Chosin fair winds and following seas as the “War Dragon” heads to its new homeport of San Diego for cruiser modernization – taking warfighting readiness to the next level. It’s the end of an era, but what it really means is CG-65 will begin a new and bold chapter.

Thank you, USS Chosin. Invictus! Congratulations, shipmates, on a job well done.

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USS Chosin Gets New Homeport For Modernization
From Public Affairs Office Naval Surface Force, U. S. Pacific Fleet

SAN DIEGO, California -- The U.S. Navy announced March 22 that USS Chosin (CG 65) will change its homeport from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, to San Diego, California.

Chosin is scheduled to depart Pearl Harbor this month to begin the cruiser modernization program in San Diego. The ship will be considered on deployment until July 1, at which time it will officially change its homeport to San Diego. This move supports the Navy's plan to modernize select cruisers to extend their service lives to 40 years, as well as upgrade shipboard combat systems to address current and future warfighting requirements.

USS Chosin was commissioned in 1991 and since then has proudly served in the Pacific from its homeport of Pearl Harbor.

In 1992 Chosin deployed for the first time to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch. On several occasions over the years, Sailors aboard Chosin rescued stranded fishermen at sea, including Iraqi and Yemeni seafarers. In 2014 USS Chosin led recovery efforts of the disabled Canadian navy oil replenishment ship Her Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS) Protecteur (AOR 509) after an engine fire. Chosin participated in humanitarian operations in the Pacific and dozens of international exercises, including Rim of the Pacific exercises in the Hawaiian Islands.

"Thousands of men and women served aboard USS Chosin over the past 25 years that the 'War Dragon' was homeported here at Pearl Harbor," said Rear Adm. John Fuller, commander, Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific and Navy Region Hawaii. "Chosin Sailors and their proud ship kept sea lanes open, built strong international partnerships and stood at the ready to defend our nation."

"We wish USS Chosin fair winds and following seas as the 'War Dragon' prepares for modernization--taking warfighting readiness to the next level," Fuller said. "I join her commanding officer, Capt. Kevin Brand, and Chosin shipmates, past and present, who offer deep appreciation to the people of Hawaii for their strong support and Aloha over many years."

Chosin is the first U.S. Navy warship named in commemoration of the First Marine Division's heroism at the Chosin Reservoir in the Korean War, "The Chosin Few." The ship's motto is "Invictus," Latin for invincible or unconquered.

The Navy will maintain cruisers undergoing modernization in a commissioned status using a reduced crew size and transferring the administrative control of the ship to Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command at the start of the modernization period. At a future date, the Navy will restore the ship to full manning and transfer administrative control back to the Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet as the ship returns to operational status.

Cruisers are designed to directly support a carrier strike group (CSG) as the air defense commander (ADC). These ships are multi-mission surface combatants capable of supporting carrier strike groups, expeditionary strike groups or operating as flagships of surface action groups. They are equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles giving them additional long range strike warfare capability.

Maintaining the most technologically advanced ships supports the commitment of United States to the security, stability and prosperity of the Indo-Asia-Pacific.

For more news from Commander, Naval Surface Force, visit www.public.navy.mil/surfor or follow the Surface Force at www.facebook.com/SurfaceWarriors and on Twitter @surfacewarriors