Leyte Gulf (CG 55) - Naval Cruise Book

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WHO ARE WE? WE ARE LEYTE GULF, AMERICA ' S BATTLE CRUISER ' BATTLE E ' WINNER AND SURFACE FORCE BATTENBURG CUP SELECTION. WE BELIEVE IN PROFESSIONALISM, MUTUAL RESPECT, AND AN AGGRESSIVE SPIRIT THAT SAYS WE WILL DO THE JOB RIGHT THE FIRST TIME AND EVERY TIME. WE KNOW WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE ARE ABOUT. WE HAVE A PRIDE IN OURSELVES AND OUR SHIP THAT MAKES US STAND OUT. WE ARE SURFACE WARRIORS WHO BELIEVE IN OURSELVES, OUR SHIP AND OUR NAVY. WE STRIVE EVERYDAY TO BE ONLY THE BEST. WE STAND READY TO MEET ANY CHALLENGE AND WE ARE WILLING TO TAKE ON ANY TEST. NO MATTER WHERE. NO MATTER WHEN. WE ARE LEYTE GULF! LEYTE GL LP

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TJSS T.FYTE GI JT.F RFMFMRFRS THE BATTLE OF T.FYT F GTJT.F In the midst of conducting United Nations Maritime Interception Operations in the Northern Arabian Gulf, LEYTE GULF scheduled a very special commemorative service and bell ringing ceremony to honor the servicemen who fought in the Battle of Leyte Gulf (Oct 23-26, 1944) ex- actly fifty years ago. Often referred to as the greatest sea battle of all time, the epic 4 day battle coincided with General Macarthur ' s return to the Philippines and virtually ended the Japanese Navy ' s capacity to fight as an organized force. The crew of LEYTE GULF assembled in dress uniforms on the ship ' s foc ' sle at the exact time that the Battle of Samar began 50 years ago to recount the battle ' s major engagements and pay homage to the heroic efforts of the sailors who fought or died. During a very poignant bell ringing ceremony the crew paid a special tribute to the crews of the twelve U.S. Ships which were lost in the ferocious engagements. LEYTE GULF ' S crew listened as tales of the ships ' engagements were recounted and followed by a fitting quote from some of Amer- ica ' s greatest military heroes. The men of each ship were then remembered by four strikes of the bell. At ceremony ' s end, each member of LEYTE GULF ' s crew left with a vivid and stirring remem- brance of the battle ' s uncommon gallantry and valor and took to heart the quote from Commander Robert Copeland, Commanding Officer of the SAMUEL B. ROBERTS, also lost in the battle, I can think of no higher honor than to serve in battle with men as fine as these. Considering LEYTE GULF ' s current location and mission assignment in the Northern Arabian Gulf, the crewmembers appeared to have a solid understanding of the significance of the service and a mood of reverence, respect, and remembrance prevailed both during and after the event. r 2 LEYTE GULF

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I 1 LEYTE GULF HISTORY USS LEYTE GULF (CG 55) is the ninth Ticonderoga class AEGIS cruiser. The ship ' s keel was laid 1 March 1985 at Ingalls Shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and christened LEYTE GULF on 11 October 1986, by Mrs. Jane Hays, wife of then Commander in Chief of the Pacific Command, Admiral Ronald J. Hays. One year later, Admiral Hays placed USS LEYTE GULF into commissioned service during ceremonies in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. LEYTE GULF was on station in the Arabian Gulf in early 1991 in support of Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. During the war, LEYTE GULF launched Tomahawk cruise missiles against Iraq and served as local Anti-Air Warfare Commander for a four Aircraft Carrier Battle Force. October 1992 saw LEYTE GULF return to the Mediterranean Sea following a three month Dry Dock Selected Restricted Ava ilability in Boston, Massachusetts providing support for Operation Pro- vide Comfort in the Adriatic Sea joining other multinational forces in response to the suffering in the former Yugoslavia. In July 1993, LEYTE GULF proceeded to the Caribbean Sea in order to continue the war on drugs dealing a severe blow to traffickers by coordinating an effort that prevented over 100 million tons of co- caine from reaching the United States. Following a Selected Restricted Availability which was completed early and under budget, LEYTE GULF conducted a successful launch of the new BLOCK III Tomahawk missile in the Gulf of Mexico sending the missile 500 miles downrange to meet 27 action points and arrive on target and on time. In July 1994, LEYTE GULF deployed to the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf in support of Operations Southern Watch and Vigilant Warrior. LEYTE GULF deployed as an independent deployer pro- viding Ready Strike capabi lities to United States Naval Forces Central Command but seamlessly inte- grated herself sequentially with two different Carrier Battle Groups performing duties as Anti-Air Warfare Commander and Strike Coordinator for the USS GEORGE WASHINGTON and USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER. LEYTE GULF also performed brilliantly in her Maritime Intercep- tion role acting as Commander Task Group 152.1 in charge of Maritime Interception in the Red Sea and Maritime Interception Coordinator in the Arabian Gulf. While in the Red Sea, LEYTE GULF conducted numerous boardings in support of United Nations sanctions against Iraq assuming Command and Coordinator of all operations and was involved in the historic joint boarding bringing an end to the at-sea effort in the Red Sea as the Operation moved ashore to Aqaba, Jordan. LEYTE GULF then transitted to the Gulf of Aqaba in order to conduct op- eration Infinite Shadow, a highly successful joint exercise with the Royal Jordanian Navy. The cruiser, operated with two Jordanian Patrol Craft in a multifaceted tactical exercise and later hosted the Commander of the Royal Jordanian Navy, Colonel Hussien Al-Khasawneh, Her Royal Highness, Princess Basma Bent Nayef of Jordan, and several regional and local officials in several receptions held onboard. ryyyyyyyyyyyy yyyyy- -yy 4 HISTORY