Maintenance window scheduled to begin at February 14th 2200 est. until 0400 est. February 15th

(e.g. yourname@email.com)

Forgot Password?

    Defense Visual Information Distribution Service Logo

    Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light 37 Detachment 1 leaves, Detachment 4 returns

    Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light 37 Detachment 1 leaves, Detachment 4 returns

    Photo By Kristen Wong | Lt. j.g. Timothy Bonham, a pilot for Detachment 4, hugs his girlfriend outside of...... read more read more

    KANEOHE, HI, UNITED STATES

    12.05.2011

    Story by Kristen Wong 

    Marine Corps Base Hawaii

    MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, KANEOHE BAY - Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light 37 bid farewell to Detachment 1 at Hangar 103 and Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Nov. 29. Two days later, the Easyriders welcomed home Detachment 4 from their six-month deployment, at Hangar 103.

    Detachment 1 will accompany the sailors of USS Chaffee until June, followed by exercises in July.

    The girlfriend of Petty Officer 3rd Class Nicholas Jones, naval aircrewman, Det. 1, HSL-37, said the deployment was a surprise because he was not scheduled to deploy until March, but had to replace a sailor who was unable to go. She said she will be busy with an upcoming internship. In addition to working part time, she also plans to get into shape to go bike riding with her boyfriend upon his return.

    “[I’m] looking forward to the food [of different cultures], and learning how different cultures operate,” said Lt. j.g. Paul Kraft, training officer for Det. 1.

    While deployed, Detachment 1 will provide air support for USS Chaffee, and “extended communications,” meaning they will act as communication liaisons between ships if needed.

    Detachment 4, consisting of several officers and more than a dozen enlisted members, departed, June 1, for a Western Pacific deployment aboard USS Chung Hoon to support operations in the Seventh Fleet area of responsibility.

    Detachment 4 deployed under the leadership of Lt. Cmdr. Russell Paige, detachment officer in charge, and Senior Chief Petty Officer Joel Murphy, detachment lead chief petty officer of HSL 37.

    The detachment executed more than 450 mishap-free flight hours and was an integral part of the Chung Hoon combat team.

    The first half of Chung Hoon’s deployment consisted of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training exercises with the Philippine and Singapore Navies and a Naval Engagement Activity with the Vietnamese Navy.

    These exercises emphasized interoperability in surface warfare and undersea warfare competencies while the NEA focused on Search and Rescue and professional exchanges.

    The second half of deployment focused primarily on presence operations in the South China Sea and Maritime Domain Awareness fisheries enforcement patrols in the South Pacific. MDA patrols were undertaken with the support of the U.S. Coast Guard and contributed to the enforcement of economic rights of the archipelago nations of Palau, Micronesia, Marshall Islands and Kiribati as well as territories of the U.S., Australia and France.

    The patrol resulted in the successful detection of multiple fishing vessels operating in violation of international law.

    Detachment 4 also enjoyed numerous port calls on the deployment including stops in the Philippines and Tahiti.

    Additionally, the crew of USS Chung Hoon and Detachment 4 participated in numerous cultural exchanges fostering friendship and mutual respect with multiple nations.

    The wife of Navy Lt. Patrick Henken, of Detachment 4, not only kept busy working and hanging out with friends, but also moved during the deployment and will be bringing her husband to their new home.

    Communication with her husband was much better than expected, through Skype and the occasional phone call.

    Among the other families on the flightline, Lt. j.g. Timothy Bonham, a pilot for Detachment 4, surprised his girlfriend with a ring, and marriage proposal. With a bright smile on his face, Bonham, of Columbia, Mo., said he’d been waiting the entire deployment to propose.

    “This one was definitely much harder,” said the wife of Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher Warren, Naval aircrewman, HSL-37.

    In addition to working, she spent time with friends and fellow squadron spouses during the deployment.

    “Skype also helped me get through this deployment,” she said.

    LEAVE A COMMENT

    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 12.05.2011
    Date Posted: 12.05.2011 13:52
    Story ID: 80914
    Location: KANEOHE, HI, US

    Web Views: 430
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN