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Page 8 text:
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Fond Farewell A day to remember or a day to forget, 25 November 1 996? It was a day filled with a myriad of emotions, having to say goodbye to family and friends. Any depression was soon replaced with a feeling of pride, of loyalty, and dedication having meticulously prepared to steam in harm ' s way. There was also excitement in the air. For the adventurous, this would prove to be an experience of a lifetime. Through high winds and heavy seas, sunshine and starlight, we were prepared to proudly go where many had gone before. We stood back to back, shoulder to shoulder knowing that no matter what may befall, we would overcome. 25 November 1996, an eventful day, but when it was over we had 177 days and a wake-up.
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Page 7 text:
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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, MS, and christened LEYTE GULF on 11 October 1986. One year later, USS LEYTE GULF was placed into commissioned service during ceremonies in Fort Lauderdale, FL. 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 Availability in Boston, MA, providing support for Operation Provide 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 support of the war on drugs, dealing a severe blow to traffickers by coordinating an operation that prevented over 100 million tons of cocaine from reaching the United States. In July 1994, LEYTE GULF deployed to the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch and Vigilant Warrior. LEYTE GULF deployed as an independent deployer providing Ready Strike capabilities to United States Naval Forces Central Command but seamlessly integrated herself sequentially with two different Carrier Battle Groups, performing duties as Anti-Air Warfare Commander and Strike Coord ' inator for USS GEORGE WASHINGTON and USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER. LEYTE GULF ' s efforts in Maritime Interception resulted in the capture of over 25,000 tons of contraband Iraqi oil and in an unprecedented feat the cruiser successfully boarded and diverted three Motor Vessels transporting contraband oil in the same day. On 25 November 1996, USS LEYTE GULF (CG 55) deployed for a six month deployment to the Mediterra- nean Sea with the USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT Battle Group. For the majority of the deployment, LEYTE GULF was the principal surface combatant escorting USS THE- ODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN 71) and her embarked Carrier Air Wing THREE, and served as the Air Warfare Commander for the THEODORE ROOSEVELT Battle Group. Displaying unmatched operational skills, LEYTE GULF repeatedly distinguished herself throughout a multitude of bilateral exercises and real-worid contin- gency operations, tracking and coordinating all air traffic within hundreds of miles of the Battle Group. Shortly after arriving in the Mediterranean, LEYTE GULF rendezvoused with a Royal Navy Task Group cen- tered around the carrier MHS ILLUSTRIOUS for a short PASSEX and then headed to her first port of call in Barcelona, Spain. After celebrating the Christmas Eve Midnight Mass with Pope John Paul II at the Vatican dur- ing her holiday port visit in Naples, Italy, LEYTE GULF operated in the Adriatic, performing Redcrown duties in support of the NATO Operation DELIBERATE GUARD in the Former Republic of Yugoslavia, Eariy Febru- ary found LEYTE GULF operating in the Eastern Mediterranean with the Israeli Air Force and Navy in Exercise JUNIPER STALLION. In Mid-February, LEYTE GULF operated in the Western Mediterranean participating in a bilateral exercise, FAN FEV 97, with a French Carrier Task Group centered around the French carrier FS CLEMENCEAU. After several days of high tempo and demanding operations that included simulated battle scenarios between two Carrier Task Groups, both LEYTE GULF and the French Navy concluded the exercise with a substantially improved interoperability. Early March found THEODORE ROOSEVELT and LEYTE GULF participating in a new SIXTH Fleet exercise called INVITEX in the Ionian Sea, south of Italy, with ships and aircraft from Italy and NATO ' s Standing Naval Force Mediterranean (STANAVFORMED). When THEODORE ROOSEVELT departed the Mediterranean for the Arabian Gulf, LEYTE GULF was di- rected to proceed to the Adriatic Sea and support the NASSAU Amphibious Readiness Group conduchng a Noncombatant Evacuation Operation (NEO) of U.S. citizens from Albania. Upon arriving in the AdriaHc on 17 March and with the assistance of its embarked SH-60B helicopter, PROUD WARRIOR, 434, LEYTE GULF res- cued twenty Albanian refugees adrift in a derelict 40-foot vessel. Having been at sea for five days and without food or water for three days, the refugees were in need of immediate medical attention and assistance, which was readily provided by LEYTE GULF ' s medical personnel and crew. After supporting Operation SILVER WAKE off the coast of Albania during March and April, LEYTE GULF conducted operations in the Central Mediterranean with THEODORE ROOSEVELT prior to participating in the NATO Exercise DISTANT THUNDER in the Aegean Sea with the Turkish Navy and the Sixth Allied Tacti- cal Air Force. While deployed to the Mediterranean, LEYTE GULF conducted ten port visits — Barcelona, Spain; Naples, (twice) and Livorno, Italy; Antalya and Izmir, Turkey; Corfu and Rhodes, Greece; Haifa, Israel; and Toulon, France. Arrayed for Victory wherever she went, LEYTE GULF returned to the United States on 22 May 1997 with tremendous pride in having met the challenges of six months at sea and having represented the United .States Navy and the American People with distinction throughout the Mediterranean Sea. '
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