Search the Site with

General Characteristics

Crew List

Memorabilia

Cruise Books

In the News

Accidents aboard the Ship

About the Ship's Coat of Arms

About the Name "De Wert"

History

Patch Gallery

Image Gallery

to end of page

USS De Wert (FFG 45)

USS DE WERT departing Kiel, Germany, on June 18, 2007. Photo by Thoralf Doehring.

USS DE WERT was one of the OLIVER HAZARD PERRY - class guided missile frigates and the first ship in the Navy to bear the name. Decommisssioned at her homeport of Mayport, Fla., on April 4, 2014, the ship was subsequently towed to Philadelphia, Penn., for lay up and possible foreign military sale.

back to top

go to the end of the page

back to top

go to the end of the page

Crew List:

This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USS DE WERT. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.

• Click here to view the list.

back to top

go to the end of the page

• Click here to see which USS DE WERT memorabilia are currently for sale on ebay.

back to top

go to the end of the page

USS DE WERT Cruise Books:

• Mediterranean and Red Sea Cruise Book 1991
• Mediterranean and Indian Ocean Cruise Book 2013

back to top

go to the end of the page

USS DE WERT in the News:

• October 12, 2000 - USS DE WERT stops drug smugglers cold

back to top

go to the end of the page

Accidents aboard USS DE WERT:

back to top

go to the end of the page

About the Ship's Coat of Arms:

The Crest:

The crest commemorates Richard De Wert's conspicuous gallantry, for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor, represented by the reversed light blue star. The four rays, for hope, represent the four times De Wert courageously exposed himself to enemy fire to save his wounded shipmates. The small stars represent valor; the sprigs of oak, strength. The ship's motto "Daring, Dauntless, Defiant" expresses the courageous sacrifice of De Wert, and serves as an inspiration to the men who man the warship named in his honor.

The Shield:

Dark blue and gold are the colors of the Navy. The scarlet cross, edged in gold, represents Richard De Wert's service as a Hospitalman with the U.S. Marine Corps. The anchor and globe are adapted from the marine corps emblem, and also symbolize the world-wide mission of the ship. The taeguk superimposed thereon denotes De Wert's service in Korea, where he gave his life.

back to top

go to the end of the page

About the Ship's Name, about Richard De Wert:

Richard DE WERT was born in Taunton, Massachusetts on 17 November 1931. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on 2 December 1948 at the Naval Recruiting Station, Boston. After basic training at the Naval Training Station, Great Lakes, Illinois, he attended U.S. Naval Hospital Corps School at the same location. His initial assignment was to the Naval Hospital, Portsmouth, Virginia.

On 28 July 1950, Hospitalman DE WERT joined the 1st Medical Battalion, 1st Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, at Camp Pendleton, California, which deployed to Korea. On 17 December, he landed at Inchon and assisted in the activation of the division hospital. Within a fortnight he took part in the liberation of SEOUL, the South Korean capital.

On 6 March 1951, after participating in several combat operations, DE WERT was transferred to the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines. On the morning of 5 April, "D" Company was advancing up a ridge against stubborn resistance from Chinese Communist Forces. A marine from the company's point platoon was wounded, and fell in an exposed position. DE WERT unhesitatingly rushed forward, treated the man's wounds, and carried him to safety. He then immediately answered a second call for aid, although himself wounded in the leg.

Ignoring his injury, and despite the warnings of his shipmates, DE WERT moved forward a third time through intense enemy gunfire. Wounded a second time, in the shoulder, DE WERT arrived to find the marine already dead. Hearing the call of a fourth comrade, DE WERT again ignored his own wounds and bravely moved through the exposed area. While tending to the fourth marine, DE WERT was killed by a burst of enemy machine gun fire.

Hospitalman Richard DE WERT was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, which was presented to his mother, Mrs. Evelyn H. DE WERT, by Secretary of the Navy, Dan A. Kimball on 27 May 1952.

back to top

go to the end of the page

USS DE WERT History:

USS DE WERT was built at Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine. Her keel was laid down on June 14, 1982, she was launched on December 18, 1982, and her sponsor was Mrs. Reta C. Kennedy. USS DE WERT was commissioned on November 19, 1983, at Bath, with Cmdr. Douglas M. Armstrong in command. During the months immediately following commissioning, she moved through the normal post-delivery and fleet-integration phase for a new OLIVER HAZARD PERRY-class frigate, and from January 9 to January 11, 1984, she completed crew certification under Commander, Destroyer Squadron Six. During 1984, she continued local training and readiness work as she settled into Atlantic Fleet service. In 1985, she entered the first full deployment cycle of her career. From August 13 to September 7, 1985, she took part in Readiness Exercise 3-85, and on October 2, 1985, she departed on her first major overseas deployment. She joined the Sixth Fleet on October 14 and participated in Operation Display Determination 85 in the Mediterranean during a period of sustained tension with Libya and continued U.S. naval presence in the central Mediterranean. On October 24, 1985, she exchanged commitments with USS SCOTT (DDG 995) in order to reinforce the screen around USS CORAL SEA (CV 43). By the opening of 1986, she was in Naples for an intermediate maintenance availability with USS YELLOWSTONE (AD 41). In early February 1986, USS DE WERT and USS CORAL SEA visited Trieste from February 2 to February 6. During that deployment, she operated with forces challenging Libya's excessive maritime claims in the Gulf of Sidra, and she participated in the February 9-14 freedom-of-navigation phase. On April 15, 1986, she took part in the strike period against Libya that followed the Berlin discotheque bombing and the already heightened U.S.-Libyan confrontation.

From July 20 to December 10, 1987, USS DE WERT deployed on UNITAS XXVIII to the Caribbean and South America. After returning home, she entered a leave-and-upkeep period and then an intermediate maintenance availability from January 11 to February 8, 1988. Cmdr. L. Heyworth III relieved Cmdr. W. F. Doran on February 11. During the spring of 1988, the ship shifted into Caribbean law-enforcement operations. Boarding activity in early March included contacts with GLISSADE and BELIZE REEFER, which was towing CARIB HAVEN, followed by MULE, TRIDENT, CARIB HAVEN again, and NO PROBLEM. On March 19, 1988, USS DE WERT ran aground off Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, was taken to pier A there, and on March 26 got underway for Pascagoula, Mississippi. She arrived at Ingalls Shipyard on March 29 and entered drydock the same day. On March 30 an explosion in one of the ship's tanks injured five shipyard workers, though no one from the ship's company was injured. Capt. P. A. Callahan temporarily relieved Heyworth on April 4, and Cmdr. A. T. Church III reported aboard on April 15 and relieved Callahan on April 19 after sea trials. The ship returned to Charleston on April 22.

She was back underway for additional Coast Guard law-enforcement operations on May 9, 1988, operating under the tactical command of the commander embarked in USS BARNEY (DDG 6). Later that month, on May 22, she intercepted MARGERET. The vessel and its crew were subsequently turned over after contraband was confirmed. A port visit followed at St. Thomas from May 27 to May 31. Midshipman training off Norfolk took place from June 19 to June 30, and after summer upkeep the ship completed an INSURV inspection from September 12 to September 14. She then moved into Middle East Force preparations and, in October, exercised with USS O'BANNON (DD 987), USS HAWES (FFG 53), USS KLAKRING (FFG 42), and USS CALOOSAHATCHEE (AO 98). On December 5, 1988, USS DE WERT deployed with USS HAWES and USS O'BANNON for the Middle East Force, reaching Ponta Delgada on December 14, Malaga on December 18, Port Said on December 29, and transiting the Suez Canal on December 30. That deployment continued into 1989 and concluded on June 5, 1989.

Cmdr. John E. Meyers relieved Cmdr. Church on April 18, 1990. From May 20 to June 20, 1990, USS DE WERT completed refresher training at Guantanamo Bay, and on July 9-10 she finished her operational propulsion plant examination with high marks. In October 1990 she returned to Caribbean law-enforcement patrols, boarding vessels that included ROOSTER 1, POTOMAC, LADY MARGERET, AGGRESSOR, WIDGEON, and TILL. From May 30 to December 21, 1991, she deployed to the Mediterranean with the USS FORRESTAL (CV 59) battle group. Cmdr. J. M. Kenny later relieved Meyers, and on January 8, 1993, Cmdr. Richard G. Hoffman Jr. took command.

In 1993 the ship began another Middle East Force deployment on February 16, and by July 1, 1993, USS DE WERT was anchored off Muscat, Oman, conducting a turnover with USS GALLERY (FFG 26). That deployment ended on August 6. In early 1994, she remained active in Atlantic and Caribbean waters. After equipment testing with USS CONNOLLY (DD 979), operations in the Virginia Capes and Puerto Rican operating areas, and a passing exercise with the Brazilian Navy, she embarked a Coast Guard law-enforcement detachment for counter-drug operations. She replenished from RFA OAKLEAF on March 24 and from USNS JOHN LENTHALL (T-AO 189) later in the period. She was en route to Haiti on April 26-27, turned over with USS KLAKRING on April 28, and then conducted special operations in support of Operation Support Democracy from April 28 to May 15, with refuelings from USNS JOHN LENTHALL on April 30, May 3, and May 5. She then returned north, made a Memorial Day weekend visit to Boston from May 26 to May 31, and on June 1, 1994, her official homeport shifted from Charleston to Mayport.

A selected restricted availability followed from June 23 to October 27, sea trials took place on October 26, and Cmdr. Richard David Uyak relieved Hoffman on October 28. In 1995, she completed the underway portion of OPPE from March 29 to March 31 with an overall grade of "Excellent". She then deployed with the USS AMERICA (CV 66) battle group from August 28, 1995, to February 24, 1996, and on November 30, 1995, she assumed Operation Sharp Guard duties from USS BOONE (FFG 28) as the embargo-enforcement effort tied to the wars of Yugoslav succession continued in the Adriatic approaches.

From November 4 to December 19, 1996, she carried out counter-drug operations in the Caribbean. On July 2, 1997, USS DE WERT departed Mayport in support of UNITAS 38-97 and remained away until November 25. In March 1998, she entered a restricted-availability period, and by late 1998, she was preparing for a six-month deployment with Standing Naval Forces Atlantic. On January 11, 1999, she departed Mayport to join that NATO force and remained deployed until July 9, 1999, a cruise that included service during the Kosovo crisis and a port visit to Amsterdam in the Netherlands.

The year 2000 brought an intensive training cycle in the Jacksonville operating area, school-ship duty at Newport, a port visit to Halifax, and major workups that included JTFEX 00-2, underway replenishments with USNS JOHN LENTHALL and SS CAPE JOHNSON (T-AK 5075), and operations associated with USS JOHN HANCOCK (DD 981) and USS KLAKRING.

On July 13, 2000, USS DE WERT began a counter-narcotics deployment. She reached Guantanamo Bay on July 16 for turnover with USS DOYLE (FFG 39) and the embarkation of a Coast Guard law-enforcement detachment, transited the Panama Canal on July 18, crossed the equator on July 26, and spent the following months in eastern Pacific operations. The deployment included boardings or investigations involving PIKERO, PETER, GRAN TAURO, ZITA IVONNE, CAUCANO, and CAPT DONALD, along with port visits to Salinas, Manta, Paita, Balboa, Golfito, Aruba, and Key West. She turned over with USS O'BANNON at Guantanamo Bay on December 17 and returned to Mayport on December 21.

In 2001, she made port visits to Key West, Boston, Newport, New York, and Yorktown. Cmdr. James R. Boorujy relieved Cmdr. Thomas K. Shannon on April 25, 2001, and on April 30 the ship began a selected restricted availability. Later that year, she completed sea trials, ammunition onloads, CART II, and readiness training, and for her 2000 deployment performance she received both the Navy Unit Commendation and the Coast Guard Unit Commendation.

In 2002, after spring workups with HSL-46 Det. 8 and training periods that included Roosevelt Roads and Port Canaveral, USS DE WERT departed Mayport on July 23 as part of Standing Naval Force Atlantic in support of Operation Active Endeavour, NATO's post-September 11 maritime-security mission in the Mediterranean. She transited the Strait of Gibraltar on August 3 and made calls at La Spezia, Aksaz, Rota, Gaeta, Izmir, and Souda Bay before returning to Mayport on December 20. Cmdr. Matthew E. Loughlin relieved Boorujy on January 3, 2003. On February 18, 2003, the ship entered a five-month drydocking selected restricted availability, was placed in drydock at Atlantic Marine in Jacksonville on April 28, undocked on June 25, completed sea trials in July, and later made a port visit to Bucksport, Maine.

Throughout the second half of 2003, she resumed CART, TSTA, deck-landing qualifications, and final evaluation work. In 2004, she supported USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV 67) carrier strike group exercises as opposition forces, visited Staten Island for Fleet Week from May 26 into early June, and departed Mayport on June 15 for counter-narcotics operations in the eastern Pacific and Caribbean under U.S. Southern Command authorities. During this deployment, she visited Cozumel, Vasco Nunez de Balboa, Manta, Balboa again, and Acapulco, and intercepted a go-fast vessel on June 25. She returned to Mayport for an intermediate maintenance availability on September 10, 2004. Cmdr. Mark J. De Clue relieved Loughlin on September 12. On September 24, 2004, she departed again for the second part of the deployment in support of UNITAS 46-05, stopping at Guantanamo Bay on September 28 to embark a Coast Guard team, then visiting Cartagena from October 2 to October 5, St. Thomas from October 11 to October 15, Montevideo from November 1 to November 5 and again from November 16 to November 18, Buenos Aires, Argentina, on November 18 for a four-day port visit, and Fortaleza on December 1 before returning to Mayport on December 10.

In 2005, USS DE WERT remained heavily engaged in maintenance, readiness work, and deployment preparation. After local operations, CART II, and additional underway periods, she sortied from Mayport on September 8 to avoid Hurricane Ophelia and took safe haven at Norfolk from September 11 to September 16. She returned home on September 18, resumed workups, and on December 5, 2005, departed Mayport for a Joint Interagency Task Force South and U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command deployment. She made a short stop at Key West on December 6 and transited the Panama Canal on December 11. On December 13, 2005, an SH-60B assigned to HSL-48 Det. 9 crashed in international waters west of Colombia shortly after taking off from the ship. All three crew members were lost. Despite that tragedy, the deployment continued. On December 20 she entered Guayaquil Bay, Ecuador, to offload drugs, migrants, and detainees seized from a go-fast vessel on December 18. She then visited Balboa on December 23, made another stop at Manta on January 5, 2006, seized 3,500 pounds of cocaine on January 14, returned through Balboa several times, transited the Panama Canal northbound on January 31, called at Guantanamo Bay on February 4-5, anchored off Port-au-Prince on February 6-7, returned to Mayport on February 10 for a two-week mid-deployment maintenance period, and then resumed operations with visits to Willemstad, Colon, Oranjestad, and Miami before returning home on April 28, 2006.

Cmdr. William R. Campbell relieved De Clue on August 3, 2006. On May 19, 2007, USS DE WERT deployed again as part of Surface Strike Group 07-2. She reached Aarhus, Denmark, on June 1 for the opening of Baltic Operations 2007, later visited Kiel during Kiel Week, and subsequently shifted to counter-narcotics work in the eastern Pacific. On August 19, 2007, she participated in the interdiction of a self-propelled semi-submersible in coordination with a U.S. Navy P-3C Orion, U.S. Coast Guard personnel, and Customs and Border Protection assets. The seizure was announced on August 23. By December 2007, she was making a scheduled port call at Kingston, Jamaica.

On March 14, 2008, she visited Boston for St. Patrick's Day weekend. On May 23, 2008, she departed on another counter-illicit-trafficking deployment, anchored off Roatan on May 27, and later operated with HSL-46 Det. 1, Coast Guard LEDET 103, and the Colombian ship BUENAVENTURA. On July 11, 2008, two go-fast vessels carrying more than one ton of cocaine each were interdicted. Another major seizure from a fishing vessel followed on September 20. USS DE WERT returned to Mayport on October 6, 2008, after a four-and-a-half-month deployment during which she seized 8.1 metric tons of cocaine and visited ports including Salaverry, Vasco Nunez de Balboa, and Curacao.

Her final operational period took her into counter-piracy and maritime-security work well outside her original Atlantic focus. On October 27, 2009, while on routine patrol in the Red Sea during a Fifth Fleet deployment, USS DE WERT provided assistance to the Yemeni-flagged dhow AL FARIS. She later made a goodwill port visit to Aqaba, Jordan, and returned to Mayport on March 18, 2010, after a six-month underway period in support of counter-piracy and maritime security operations.

In May 2010, she visited New York for Fleet Week. Cmdr. Vince W. Baker relieved Cmdr. Sean G. McLaren on April 7, 2011, after the ship completed a four-month drydocking availability at Earl Ship Repair Florida. On August 10, 2011, she deployed with Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 in support of counter-piracy and maritime-security operations, calling at Souda Bay on August 24. On October 10, 2011, USS DE WERT responded to the distress call from the hijacked Italian merchant ship M/V MONTECRISTO. She was the first NATO warship to reach the scene. After RFA FORT VICTORIA arrived, the NATO boarding team was launched from the British support ship, while USS DE WERT maintained communications pressure on the hijackers. The pirates surrendered without violence and the crew, who had secured themselves in the citadel, were freed safely. Later port visits during that deployment included Dar es Salaam and Port Louis. On February 14, 2012, USS DE WERT departed Augusta Bay with USS VELLA GULF (CG 72) and USS THE SULLIVANS (DDG 68) for Proud Manta 2012, a major NATO anti-submarine exercise, and on March 10 she returned to Mayport after a seven-month deployment in support of Active Endeavour and Ocean Shield.

That spring, she visited New Orleans and Port Everglades. Cmdr. Joseph C. Thomas relieved Baker on June 8, 2012. On July 16, 2012, the ship departed for a 73-day Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway cruise commemorating the bicentennial of the War of 1812. Accompanied for much of the voyage by USS HURRICANE (PC 3), and at points by HMCS VILLE DE QUEBEC and USCGC KATMAI BAY, she visited Halifax, Quebec City, Montreal, Milwaukee, Chicago, Toledo, Cleveland, Detroit, Ashtabula, and Buffalo before returning home on September 27.

Her last deployment began on July 12, 2013, when she departed Mayport with HSM-46 Det. 3 in support of Operation Ocean Shield as part of Standing NATO Maritime Group 1. During that final cruise she called at Souda Bay, Djibouti, Muscat, Victoria in Seychelles, Lisbon, and Funchal, concluded counter-piracy operations in the Indian Ocean in early December, and returned to Mayport on December 23, 2013. USS DE WERT was decommissioned at Mayport on April 4, 2014, ending more than thirty years of service.

back to top

go to the end of the page

USS DE WERT Patch Gallery:

back to top

go to the end of the page

USS DE WERT Image Gallery:

The photos below were taken in 1999 when USS DE WERT visited Amsterdam, The Netherlands, while participating in NATO's STANAVFORLANT.

The photos below were taken by me June 16-18, 2007, and show the DE WERT during her port visit to Kiel, Germany, after her participation in BALTOPS 2007 in the Baltic Sea.

The photos below were taken by Michael Jenning and show the DE WERT laid up among her sisterships at the former Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. The photos were taken on October 21, 2014.

The photos below were taken by Michael Jenning and show the DE WERT laid up at the former Philadelphia Naval Shipyard on October 7, 2018.

The photos below were taken by Michael Jenning and show the DE WERT laid up at the former Philadelphia Naval Shipyard on May 26, 2023.

back to top

Back to Frigates list.

Back to ships list.

Back to selection page.

Back to 1^st page.