Navy
USS Hershel ‘Woody’ Williams returns to Norfolk after being forward deployed for nearly 5 years
Stars and Stripes
April 10, 2025
Operations Specialist 2nd Class Dakota Easley, assigned to the Lewis B. Puller-class expeditionary mobile base USS Hershel “Woody” Williams (ESB 4), greets his family following the ships return to Naval Station Norfolk, April 10, 2025. (Derek Cole/U.S. Navy)
The USS Hershel “Woody” Williams returned to Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia on Thursday after operating forward deployed for almost five years in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations.
“This is a unique opportunity to welcome home a hard-working ship from its historic tenure forward-deployed, and to welcome home its crew — its heart, soul and lifeblood — in classic Navy fashion,” said Rear Adm. Dave Walt, Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group TWO. “This crew has punched above its weight and impressed leadership with its hard work, resourcefulness and dedication.”
Williams returned to Norfolk with a hybrid-manned crew of 44 Military Sealift Command civil service mariners who operated, navigated and maintained the vessel and 85 sailors, who alternated manning the vessel and allowing for continuous strategic deterrence patrols.
Williams will spend a week at Norfolk, offloading her fuel before shifting to the East Coast Repair and Fabrication Shipyard in Newport News where she will be lay berth — not active in operational activities — awaiting her next tasking.
Boatswain’s Mate Seaman Anataysha Leonortiz, assigned to the Lewis B. Puller-class expeditionary mobile base USS Hershel “Woody” Williams (ESB 4), greets her partner following the ships return to Naval Station Norfolk, April 10, 2025. (Derek Cole/U.S. Navy)
Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Liam Pratt, assigned to the Lewis B. Puller-class expeditionary mobile base USS Hershel “Woody” Williams (ESB 4), greets his wife following the ships return to Naval Station Norfolk, April 10, 2025. (Derek Cole/U.S. Navy)
Line handlers stand by on the pier as the Lewis B. Puller-class expeditionary mobile base USS Hershel “Woody” Williams (ESB 4) returns to Naval Station Norfolk, April 10, 2025. (Derek Cole/U.S. Navy)
The Lewis B. Puller-class expeditionary mobile base USS Hershel “Woody” Williams (ESB 4) returns to Naval Station Norfolk, April 10, 2025. (Derek Cole/U.S. Navy)
The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps — occasionally joined by the U.S. Coast Guard — operate as forward deployed forces, and are usually positioned in a foreign country or area to create deterrence, and enable quick response to potential conflicts.
In 2020, Williams shifted homeports from Norfolk to Souda Bay, Crete, Greece. For 59 months, the vessel conducted U.S. Africa Command missions in the Mediterranean, and the waters around East, South and West Africa, to include the Gulf of Guinea operating with regional partners. Williams was the first Navy warship assigned to AFRICOM due to the ship’s ability to support maritime security and humanitarian operations.
In 2024, the Navy relieved Capt. Lenard Mitchell as commander of Williams in connection with the ship running aground in May as it attempted to leave a port in Africa. There were no reported injuries or major damage.
Williams is an expeditionary sea-base ship named in honor of Chief Warrant Officer Hershel “Woody” Williams, a decorated Marine who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II.