STATEN ISLAND, New York. – Petty Officer 1st Class Richard Johnson, a native of Atlanta, assigned to USS De Wert is currently attending the 23rd Fleet Week hosted by the city of New York.
Johnson, the son of Paul R. Johnson and Patricia A. Merritt, who reside in Atlanta, attended Westlake High School.
More than 3,000 members of the Maritime Services are participating in the yearly event hosted by the city. The event includes military demonstrations, sporting events, ship tours, Staten Island Music Festival, parades and a chance to meet the men and women of the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.
USS De Wert recently returned from a six-month deployment in the Horn of Africa protecting the sea lines of communication from piracy. USS De Wert's mission is to provide air, submarine, and surface protection for carrier battle groups, underway replenishment forces, amphibious groups, and convoys.