Navy
USS Boxer: ‘30 years and thriving’
Stars and Stripes
February 13, 2025
Capt. Jason Tumlinson, Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) commanding officer, and a native of Spokane, Washington, cuts a cake as Command Master Chief Benjamin Washington, also assigned to Boxer, and a native of Rochester, New York, observes during Boxer’s 30th birthday celebration on the messdecks Feb. 11, 2025. (Tyler Miles/U.S. Navy)
The Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) is celebrating 30 years of service and history.
Past and present crew members and leadership joined together for a “30 years and thriving” ceremony aboard the mess decks on Tuesday in San Diego. The sailors held a commemorative cake cutting honoring the ship’s accomplishments.
“The true strength of Boxer has always been its crew; past, present and future,” said Capt. Jason Tumlinson, USS Boxer commanding officer. “The dedication, resilience and professionalism of the sailors and Marines who have served aboard this ship are what make her a force to be reckoned with. Every mission, every challenge and every achievement is evident of their hard work and commitment. As we celebrate Boxer’s legacy, we also look forward to the future, knowing that with this incredible team, we are ready for anything.”
Capt. Jason Tumlinson, Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) commanding officer, and a native of Spokane, Washington, speaks to the crew during Boxer’s 30th birthday celebration on the mess decks Feb. 11, 2025. (Tyler Miles/U.S. Navy)
The sixth and current ship to bear the name Boxer was commissioned on Feb. 11, 1995. Boxer has played a pivotal role in key operations, including 14 deployments spanning the globe in crises and conflicts, humanitarian missions after natural disasters and continued maritime security efforts in the Indo-Pacific region.
In November 2024, the USS Boxer returned from a deployment to the U.S. 7th and 3rd Fleet areas of operations where more than 2,500 sailors and Marines — from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit — participated in joint and combined exercises in the Indo-Pacific.
“Boxer has a proud legacy of excellence from humanitarian missions to combat operations, always answering the nation’s call with strength and determination,” Tumlinson said. “This ship is a testament to the dedication of the sailors and Marines who have served aboard her, embodying the fighting spirit of the Navy and Marine Corps team. As we celebrate another year in her storied history, we honor the past while looking ahead to the future, ready to take on any challenge.”
Lt. Matt Soper, right, assigned to the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4), and a native of Fresno, California, speaks to the crew as Senior Chief Information Systems Technician Adam Randle, also assigned to Boxer and a native of Athens, Tennessee, observes during Boxer’s 30th birthday celebration on the mess decks Feb. 11, 2025. (Tyler Miles/U.S. Navy)
The ship has earned numerous accolades, including: the Battle Effectiveness Award; the Maritime Warfare Excellence Award; the Command, Control, Communications and Information Warfare Excellence Award; the Logistics Management Excellence Award; the Self Sufficiency Award; the Force Health and Wellness Unit Award or Green ‘H’; and the Captain Edward F. Ney Memorial Food Service Award.
“The Boxer is more than just steel and machinery; it’s a home, a legacy, and a symbol of strength,” Senior Chief Information Systems Technician Adam Randle said. “Over the years, this ship has carried generations of sailors who have stood the watch, answered the call, and upheld the highest traditions of the Navy. I’m proud to serve aboard her and grateful for the camaraderie and resilience of the crew that keeps her mission-ready.”