Cmdr. Kevin Dore, commanding officer of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Daniel Inouye (DDG 118), hugs his family during the return to homeport celebration at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Oct. 4, 2024. (Paula Hackbart/U.S. Navy)
After a nine-month deployment, the guided missile destroyer USS Daniel Inouye returned Friday to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. Friends and family welcomed the ship and crew home during a homeport celebration.
The ship’s crew demonstrated readiness and responsiveness throughout the deployment but especially during a rescue on Aug. 23 when the ship’s rigid-hull inflatable boat along with a search and rescue helicopter from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron saved two distressed Iranian mariners in international waters and transported them to the USS Theodore Roosevelt for medical care.
“Every single day this crew goes about their daily routines, treating every drill like it’s real life. Every time a real situation comes up, everyone is cool, calm and collected under pressure,” said Cmdr. Ryan Kelly, executive officer of Daniel Inouye. “That is ‘going for broke,’ when you give everything you have to everything you do in training. I’m honored to be part of a crew that gives their all every single day like the team on this ship.”
When not conducting sea operations, Daniel Inouye sailors also had the opportunity to enjoy foreign cultures during port visits to the South Korea, Singapore and Thailand.
Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Daniel Inouye (DDG 118), pulls into its homeport of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Oct. 4, 2024. (Paula Hackbart/U.S. Navy)