Abad, Lloyd T. LS1; Adorador, Bradley W. LT - STO; Alexander, Jonathan S. SN; Almendras, Robert LS3; Alvarado, Michael V. DCC(SW/AW); Alvin B Johns ET3; Anderson, Nicole L. NC1(SW); Andre Angel; Angel, Andre C. IT1(SW/EXW); Antonides, Daniel R. STG2(SW); Anza, Sulficio, A. SH3; Arizaga, Gilbert GM1(SW); Armstrong, Alicia M. AD3; Ary, Marcus R. ET2; Avilez, Collin GM3; Aweh, James GSM2(SW); AWRC Avery, Joshua; Bailey, Wendel S. GSE2; Baisden, Nile C. GSM3; Baker, Branden J. IC1(SW/AW); Barnes, Christopher R. LCDR; Barry, John J. CDR; Barton, Nathaniel SN; Bayes, Justin T. GSM3; Beard, Tiffany MT. hOSe2; BBecuk, Jnoshuka OeS2r(SW )H; Beihml, lTimothy U. FC3; Bennett, Stephen CTM1(SW); Bennion, Tyler A. ET3; Bibler, Chad LT - OPS; Bisson, Blake M. AT2; Black, Alexander BM3(SW); Blair, Courtney E. GMSN; Blome, Monte D. CTR1(SW/AW); Boles, P Jake L. IT2(SW); Bonas, Khyim OS2(SW/AW); Bousky, Andrew J. LTJG - DCA; Bowie, Mathew P. LSSAV;o Bl oIy/d0,6 Nigel E. LS3; Boyle, Christopher J. HT2(SW); Bracamonte, Joseph R. ENS - ASWO; Branch, Vada A. YNSN(SW); Brewer, Robert HT1(SW); Brown, Joshua D. YN2(SW); Brown, Samuel J. ATRIOT ADC; Bryant, Gary A. AWRC; Burns, Mark G. LTJG - 1st LT; Burton, Rae L. FC2 (SW); Caballero, Erica Y. ENS - ELECTRO; Calub, Randy B. EN1(SW); Calzadillas, Michael EN3; Campbell, Brian A FCSN; Campbell, Oliver C. BMSA; Cantrell, Keith A. GM3; Carignan, Bradley W. OS3; Carlton, Thomas OS2(SW); Carrillo, Paul OS3; Casamassa, Ashley P. CTT2(SW); Castillo, Lord AD1; Chandler, Robert J. LT; Choate, Susan M. ENS - COMMO; Cisneros, Cordero CSSN; CIV Leon, Diego G.; Clark, Edward GM3; Clark, Nathaniel A. ENS - CICO; Clark, Patrick STG2; Clemente, Johnny ENFN; Cloud, Dwight EMC(SW); Coe, Livy ENS - GSEO; Collins, Daniel L. GSMC(SW); Collins, Drew M. STG3; Connolly, Brian LCDR - XO; CortezVirella, Wilfredo OS2(SW/AW); Cretti, James B. FC2; Cronberg, Christopher P. FC1(SW); Crosby, Abad SN; Cruz, Eduardo L. FC2(SW); Cuajunco, Armando R. GSE1(SW); CWO; Dahlstrom, John BM3; Davis, Emily LTJG - EKO; Dean, K C. ATAN; Degraff, Matthew S. FC3; Deguzman, Jayson C. GSE3(SW); Delgado, Nicholas A. IT1(SW/AW); Demers, Kyle E. ET3; Denbow, Kevin CTT2; Dent, Stephen T. FC2; DeScisciolo, Dominic CAPT - CO; Dickinson, Brandon GSM3; Dilday, Robert H. EN2(SW); Ding, Cheng GSMFR; Dobson, Ruth A. CS3; Donahue, Jeffrey HTFN; Doree, Tiffany B. CTT3; Drury, Jane L. OS3; Duncan, Barbara A. ENS - STRIKE; Eccleston, Anthony E. ENS; Echevarria, Jason CWO2 - IWO; Edgar, Michael FCC; Effinger, Brandon D. AZAN; Elinkowski, Michael S. CTR2(SW); Elosge, Melissa FC2(SW); Featherstone, Lynn P. QM2(SW); Fischer, Bradley C. STGSN; Fitch, Matthew L. SH1(SW); Fournier, Joshua A. OS2; Fraley, Tamara L. ET2; Francisco Torres; Garcia, Roberto GSE1(SW); Gatchalian, Rogelio PS1(SW); Gazaway, Matthew W. IT2; GeBray, Faniel S. LS3; George, Patrick ENS; Gholson, Robert OSC; Gilles, Kevin E. STG2; Gillespie, Dustin SN; Gilmore, Edwin QMSR; Giuda, Joseph A. ENS - EWO; Gomez, Charles C. GSMFN; Gomez, Michael BMSN; Gonzalez, Omar EM1(SW); Gonzalez, Ruben LSCS(SW); Good, Jennifer ET3; Gopalan, Sean R ADAN; Gossett, Kennneth AD3; Gottfried, Blaze SN; Grady, Milton L. ET3(SW); Graham, Matthew J. ENS - REPO; Gregory, Adam FCCM(SW) - 3MC; Grenke, Justin AMAN; Griffiths, Kendall M. ETC(SW); Guerrero, Gilberto IT1(SW/AW); Hale, Joshua L. GM2; Hale, Robert EM3; GM3 Hanson, Kristen; Harcrow, Trevor G. AT2; Harp, Christopher M. FC3; Hart, Anthony CS2(SW); Hartman, Brad D. AWR3; Hauck, Robert J. LCDR; Hebert, Nathaniel FC2; Heine, Carl H. OS2(SW); Hernadi, Jeffrey CSSN; Hernandez, Guillermo CSC(SW); Hickman, Daryl OSC (SW/AW); Hicks, Joseph; Hockensmith, Troy L.; Hodges, Daniel A. GSM2(SW); Holian, Daniel J. LTJG; Holt, Margaret A. CTT1(SW/AW); Homan, Ronald P. ET3; Horel, Christopher J. ENS; Hruska, Lee A FC2(SW); Hsu, Chia-Chen J. STG3; Huff, Guy GSM1(SW); Inman, Robin A. GMSN; Jackson, Dustin W. SR; James, Kelvin LT - CSO; James, Matthew A. ENS; Jastrzemski, Mattew E. CTRSN; Jenks, Jordan B. CTM3; Jensen, Ian FC1(SW); Jensen, Keith E. LS3; Jimenez, Juan AD2; Johnson, Christopher W. ET3; Johnson, Justin T. STG2; Johnson, Michael DC2(SW); Johnson, Rusty D. IC3; Johnson, Tiffany ISC(SW/AW); Jones, Jeremy D. OS2(SW/AW); Jones, McDavitt AM2; Jones, Robert L. IC3(SW); Joseph, Justin OS3; Karo, Cassandra N. OS1 (SW/AW); Keeton, Graylon W. SHSA; Keier, Dustin J. OS2; Kelley, Jasmine M. ENS - SALES; Kelling, James S. ENS; Kevin Berhow; Khaykeo, Bounchanh GSM2(SW); Kilgore, Jacquelyne L. GM1; Kim, Ju EM2(SW); Kincaid, Scott C. ENS; Klemens, Kevin W. ENS - GSMO; Knapp, Robert ENS; Knowles, David G. STG1(SW); Koesler, Jason A. ETC (SW/EXW); Konitzer, Jason P. AE1; Krentz, Nathaniel EN3; Kriewall, Paul E. DCFR; Kurtz, David DC1(SW); Kutkiewicz, Trisha J. ENS - ORDO; Lagae, Jerald CS3; Laster, Jamison FC2(SW); LCDR Levy, Jason M.; Leake, Reggie C. CS1; Lewis, Jamel R. AE3; Lewis, Olivia M. STGSN; Lim, Bryce T. DC1(SW); Limbag, Francis GSM3(SW); Little, Trace H. ISC(SW); Locke, Arika SHSN; Long, Adam FC2; Loomis, John M. LT - WEPS; Lopez, Jaime F. OS2(SW); Low, Christopher GM2; Lunod, Roel LS2(AW); Lupisan, James GSE1(SW); Macchiavello, Francisco LTJG Chilean Navy (PEP) - ATRAINO; Maiden, Anthony M. DCFN; Manning, Marc E. ENFR; Marasigan, Dorothy GSM2(SW); Marcos L Austin; Marsh, Erik J. FC2(SW); Maxon, Mark E. GSEC(SW); Mayer, Nicholas BMSN; Mays, Everett M. CMDCM(SW/AW) - CMC; McDan- iel, Hope J. CTR1(SW); McQuay, Jerrell M. CTT3; Meader, David FC1; Meinkowsky, Billy J. STG2; Mejia, Proceso C. LS1(SW); Merrill, James E. QMC(SW); Miller, Richard EN3; Milton, Adam J. IT3; Minnis, Michael D. IC2(SW); Mitchell, Michael C. IT2(SW); Moore, Christopher J. FCC(SW/SS); Morales, Vicen; Moseley, Stevincent FC2; Murray, Jordan F LTJG - TRAINO; Murray, Ryan L. CS3; Navarro, James FC1(SW); Navy Cash; Neeley, Tommy EN2(SW); Newlun, Jonathan M. FCCS(SW); Newman, Napolion SN; NIAPS_Administrator; Nunez, Bryan A. CS3; O’ Connor, Christopher F. LT - SUPPO; Oberg, Seth S. AT1; Okane, Erin L. FC2(SW); Olsen, Eric LT - EMO; Orduna, Anthony BMSA; Orpilla, Jomel R. LS2(SW); Packard, Matt G. LT; Padaoan, Lucius V. FC1(SW); Pagan, Mat W. HM1(FMF); Pantanella, Jesse D. AO2; Paris, Kaleb ENFR; Parra, David BM2(SW); Parrish, Bryan EN1(SW); Pastoral, Edward O. MR2(SCW); Patterson, Derrick FC1(SW); Pearson, Brittany S. OSSN; Perdomo, Arturo FC3; Pereira, Jeremy C. YN1(SW); Perez, Lizeth Y. AZ2; Petri, Nathaniel L. IT2(SW); Pha, Chaung S. FC2; Poole, Brandon P. FC2; Porras, Adam M. AE3; Porter, Jerome C. CTTC; Powell, Seth L. GSE3; Pryne, Christina S. ENS - GFCO; Quinones, Reynaldo J. GM1; Ramirez, Blanca R. ENS - GUNNO; Ramirez, Kimberly J. QM3(SW); Randleman, Dawan C. OSSN; Randleman, Joseph B. SN; Raymond, Keston L. AM2; Rayno, Marshall A FC2; Reggie Perez; Reid, James B. OS3(SW); Reyes, Christopher L. LTJG - AUXO; Rhodes, Dakota L. GSM3; Richardson, Breanna K. SHSA; Richmond, Passion E. BM2(SW); Rivera, Felipe III IT2(SW); Roberts, Cody FC3; Rodriquez, Joel OS2(SW); Romero, Anthony ENC(SW); Roper, Ronald L. FC1(SW); Rothschild, Mark J. LTJG; Rowe, Anthony SN; Ruiz, Jose G. CTTSR; Sagun, Ericson G. AM3; Sanchez, Deon BMSA; Sanchez, Luis M. CS2; Sansom, William C. ET3; Scantling, Sharee OS3; Schmidt, Major N. GSCS(SW); Schroth, Brian S. AE2; Scott, Ian J. GSM3; Seeckts, Walter D. BMC(SW); Segerson, Stephen M. SN; Self, Bradley AE3; Shanafelt, Kevin L. FCC(SW/AW); Shaw, Jaqueline CS1(SW/AW); Shelley, Aaron R. MC3; Shemwell, Rick D. IT2(SW); Shenk, Scott LT - AOPS; Simmons, Stephen A. GSM1(SW); Skyberg, Chadrick D. STG2; Smarz, Phillip A. DCFN; Smith, Justin FC2; Snook, Sean E. HMC; Sparkuhl, David J.; Stabila, Salvador C. IT2(SW); Stafford, William K. GMSA; Stearns, Robert F. GMC(SW); Stephens, Doni K. QMSN; Stoker, Michael LCDR - CHENG; Sullivan, Spencer J. STG3; Sutkowsky, Jeffrey J. ET2(SW); Tackett, Joshua EN3(SW); Talley, Heather O. LT; Taveras, Anthony CS3 (SW); Taylor, David; Taylor, Montez L. HTFR; Temple, Brandon W. ENS - GLO; Thayer, Mitchell A. STG2; Thomas, Darrius D. CSSN; Thomas, Ervin GSM3(SW); Thomas, Evan OS1(SW); Thompson, Earnest - LTJG - MPA; Thompson, Tristan SR. IT2(AW); Tillis, Marvell GSE3; Tinstman, Tyler J AWRAN; Tobias, Jose J. LTJG - FSO; Toyias, Matthew J. FC3; Tracey, Joshua C. STG3; Trejo, David LS2(SW); Trevino, Jose A. AM3; Trowbridge, Robert ET3(SW/AW); Tucker, Sherod M. GSE3; Turner, Barry W.; Tuttle, Corey OS2; Ulmer, Eric GSM3; Valdez, Henry R. GM2(SW); Valdez, Monica A. HM3; Valentine, Darius O. STG2; Valentine, Sydney B. ITSA; Van, Dai ENS; Vargas, Jorge YN1(SW/AW); Vargas, Victor M. OS2(SW); Villegas, Ruth E. DC3(SW); Virden, David HT3; Vironchi, Angelica MAC(SW/AW); Vruggink, Mikail EMFN; Wagner, William FC1 (SW/NAC); Walker, Landon C. STGSA; Walker, Maurice A. OSSN; Walker, Thomas J. PSC(SW); Wallace, Josh STGCS(SW/AW); Weaver, Joshua J. SR; Webb, Edward FC1; Weisberg- er, Joseph G. III LT - FCO; Welch, Ryan M. CTR2; Welsh, Jarred B. FC3; Weston, Tara GMSA; Williams, James V. FC3; Williams, Jennifer ITC(SW); Wolf, Joseph AM2; Yang, David HM3(FMF); Yoo, David DC3(SW); Young, Loren J. ET2(SW); Zalapa, Jon-Mark ET2(SW); Zhong, Kai EMFA; Zhu, Can Z. LS3 Happening Now Quartermaster Seaman Doni Stephens watches as the battle ensign is raised on the main mast on board USS Bunker Hill. Interior Communications Electrician 3rd Class Rusty John- son enters the starboard side of USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) during a visit, board, search and seizure exercise. The crew musters on the ship’s flight deck during an awards at quarters presentation. USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) floats in the Manilla Bay during a schedueled port visit to the Philippines. Sailors on board USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) heave fueling lines from USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) during a replenishment at sea. Sonar Technician 3rd Class (SW) Joshua Tracey pre- pares to transfer a training torpedo. Seaman Richard Jackson performs pushups on the forecastle on board USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) during the ship’s crossing the line ceremony. Sailors take advantage of a long awaited beer day on Hong Kong is seen off the starboard side of USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) as the fantail on board USS Bunker Hill (CG 52). she maneuvars into position for anchoring. 4 Bunker Hill Patriott StGaettirng ted ( ( May has been a very exciting month for the crew of USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) as they’ve departed the 5th fleet area of responsibil- ity and have continued to make their way closer to home. Publisher: During that time, they’ve encountered pirates, cel- CAPT Michael J. Ford ebrated sea time with a beer day, visited two dif- Executive Publisher: ferent port calls and witnessed a change of LCDR Brian Connolly command. Needless to say, the crew has had plenty of activities to Editors in Charge: CMDCM (SW/AW) Everett Mays keep them busy. ENS Matthew Graham Photographers/Writers: ENS Barbara Duncan OS3 Bradley Carignan MC3 Aaron Shelley 5 Commanding Officers Call Greetings to all the families, friends and supporters of the USS BUNKER HILL. I am CAPT Mike Ford and I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce myself and let you know how excited I am to be a part of this great team. I relieved CAPT DeScisciolo on 21 May as we transited between port visits in Manila and Hong Kong. It has certainly been an eventful start to this assignment. First a little about myself. I am originally from Iowa and before entering the Navy via the Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate program in 1986, I was a high school teacher and coach in Minnesota. In my 25 years in the Navy, I have been stationed on both the east and west coasts and also served in Japan for a time. I have served aboard six other ships, splitting my time between Aircraft Carriers as a nuclear trained officer and cruiser/destroyer platforms for the remainder. I was fortunate to have Command of the Guided Missile Destroyer USS MUSTIN (DDG 89) between 2004 and 2006 while it was stationed in San Diego and am looking forward to again serving aboard a San Diego based ship. On the personal front, I have been married for almost 23 years to Noreen Hagerty-Ford, a Commander in the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General Corps. She is currently as- signed to duty in Washington but will be transferred to the San Diego area later this summer. We both look forward to meet- ing all the families and friends over the course of the next few months. Again…it is great to be a part of the team. Now to the good news…we are headed east and making our way back to you! After the crew conducted some final out- standing work in the Fifth Fleet area of responsibility, they were finally rewarded with a couple of well deserved port visits to Manila and Hong Kong. Of the two stops, I’d say the crew likely enjoyed Hong Kong the most but both allowed for some much needed down time and a chance to recharge batteries for this last push home. We are all looking forward to seeing a number of our friends and family at our next stop…Hawaii. Plans are well underway for the Tiger Cruise…it should be an exciting few days both for the Tigers and the sponsors. Of course, it all culminates with our return in a couple of weeks to homeport and a chance for all to see our loved ones…the crew cannot wait! A final note as I complete my first few weeks as BUNKER HILL’s new CO. The road ahead will be challenging. As many of you are aware, the schedule for the summer and the fall will be busy as we prepare for our next deployment. I want you to know that I understand and appreciate the sacrifices that you all make in support of your sailors. We could not do what is needed to meet our mission if it were not for your love and support. Please accept my thanks and that of the entire BUNKER HILL leadership team…you are the foundation that makes us strong and you provide the motivation that we need to keep charging ahead. Thank you and we’ll see you soon! Sincerely, [ [ Michael J. Ford CAPT, U.S. Navy Commanding Officer, USS BUNKER HILL (CG 52) 6 Bunker Hill Patriott Executive Officer’s Call BUNKER HILL Family, We are on our way home at last! After 5 months of busy opera- tions May presented us with many special and unique challenges; but the crew handled them all with skill, dedication, and style. As we began to depart the 5th Fleet area of operation we were called upon to intervene in an attempted piracy event. Boarding a suspected pirate ship at night is no easy task, but our Sailors made it look like it was. Because of their careful and meticulous efforts that particular group of plunderers will be out of business for a while. A few more days of operating in the Indian Ocean brought us back to the Strait of Malacca, which you may recall from an earlier newsletter is the busiest, most heavily trafficked “shipping roadway” in the world. Working our way through the traffic jam of merchant ships, ferries, and fishermen we arrived in the South China Sea. Being so close to the equator; BKH took the oppor- tunity to perform the time honored tradition of a “Crossing the Line” ceremony and initiate many of our newer sailors into trusty shellbacks (more about that on later pages). Also in the South China Sea are the ports of Manila (in the Philippines) and Hong Kong (China). After months of very hard work and constant focus it was incredible for the crew to get to blow off some steam, enjoy new cultures and new places, and (most of all) just to relax for a bit. Many members of the BUNKER HILL crew gave up some of their all- to-rare free time in these ports to participate in COMREL (community relations) projects. They helped to conduct some necessary maintenance and paint in local schools, organized and packaged supplies to be sent to needy villages and refugee camps, and even gave time to the Hong Kong Ronald McDonald house! We also held a Change of Command ceremony. Capt. DeScisciolo was properly relieved of command of USS BUN- KER HILL by Capt. Ford. Getting a new CO is always an interesting time for a ship – it’s the end of one style of leader- ship and the beginning of another. It is certainly worth taking a moment to thank Capt. DeScisciolo for all that he did on board and ensure him that we will work hard to remember all that he taught us; and to welcome Capt. Ford to the BUNKER HILL Family. And so, finally, we are homeward bound. There are still a lot of things we need to accomplish before we pull in, but at least we have the ship pointed in the direction we all want to be headed – back to family! Sincerely, [ [ Brian D. Connolly LCDR USN Executive Officer 7 Command Master Chief’s Call BUNKER HILL Family and Friends, We have reached the final full month of deployment. Sailors are ready to be reunited with the family, friends and love ones. The month of May had a lot of excitement. We began the month by leaving the 5th fleet area of operation and within hours being pulled back in to the area to conduct a piracy operation. The professionalism of our Sailors ensured the operation went off without incident. On conclusion of that event we continued tracking across the Pacific Ocean home. As we made our way across, the crew of BUNKER HILL enjoyed another Morale Day; the second of the Deployment. Each Sailor enjoyed two beers again for being at sea for 45 consecutive days. Also, within keeping with tradition we dipped down below the equator and conducted our Shellback Ceremony. After cleans- ing the ship of its slimy pollywogs, we pull into Manila, Philip- pines for a much needed port visit for the crew. A few days after leaving Manila, BUNKER HILL had a Change of Command Ceremony where CAPT Michael J Ford relieved CAPT Dominic DeScisciolo underway with a Ceremony conducted on the forecastle of the ship. It didn’t take long before we pulled into the lovely port of Hong Kong where Sailors got a chance to enjoy a back to back quality liberty port. Most of the Sailors enjoyed their time by buying gifts for family back home. As always, the fun part of the job always closes with us getting back underway and back to work, focused as ever, because we know as a ship, our Families are close and on the horizon. From my prospective it has been an incredible six months onboard the best War Ship in the U.S. Navy. As always, we appreciate the unwavering dedication and support of our loved ones. Sincerely, [ [ Everett M. Mays CMDCM (SW/AW) Command Master Chief 8 Bunker Hill Patriot Chaplain’s Call Greetings Family, Friends and Crew of USS Bunker Hill, It is so hard to believe that by the time you read this we will be counting down just mere days until we see you again. The thought of you standing on the pier waiting for us has helped us persevere to the end. As you know we have finally had some port visits and I was fortunate enough to see your Sailor hard at work during our Community Relations (COMREL) projects. In Manila, we painted classrooms at an elementary school alongside our Philippine Navy shipmates. In Hong Kong we had two COMRELs; we packed a container bound for India and moved a lot of furniture at Crossroads Village, and we also trimmed trees and cleaned up the community kitchen at Ron- ald McDonald House. Your sailors could have done so many other things with their time, but they chose to give to those that could use a little extra help. For our homecoming preparations we had the fine folks of Fleet and Family Support Center give several classes for both the married and the single Sailor. They received some training on how to make for a success- ful return to the family but please go easy on them as they transition home. Enjoy that honeymoon period and if you find yourself needing some help or encouragement please know that you contact me. I am a permanent part of the Bunker Hill family and available to you. In the meantime if you would like to talk to someone at Fleet and Family Support the following locations and numbers are provided for your use: Naval Base San Diego (619) 556-7404 Naval Base Point Loma (619) 553-8306 Naval Base Coronado (619) 545-6071 Murphy Canyon Branch (858) 277-4259 www.cnrsw.navy.mil/fsc See you soon!!!! God’s blessings on you and your family. [ [ Chaplain Jim Dewey LT, CHC, USN [email protected] 9 Bunker Hill Responds To Merchant Distress Calls On the morning of May 05, 2011, USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) responded swiftly at 30 plus knots to distress calls from the Panamanian flagged merchant vessel Full City. The vessel was boarded by pirates earlier that morning, forcing the crew to take refuge in the ship’s citadel. While the pirates tried to force their way into the citadel, USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) received the mer- chant’s distress calls and aided the vessel by sending aircraft to scene. Upon seeing the aircraft’s presence, the pirates left the merchant by disengaging their skiff and fleeing from the area. Bunker Hill arrived and surveyed the damage inflicted by the aggressive pirates on the merchant’s superstruc- ture. Once relieved by the Turkish Frigate Giresun (491), Bunker Hill proceeded directly toward the pirate’s mother ship. A Helicopter from “Scorpions” Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light 49 (HSL-49) was launched from the flight deck of Bunker Hill and proceeded to give chase to the mother ship. Once on top, the helicopter fired warning shots, bringing the vessel to a halt. Shortly after, Bunker Hill caught up, pulling alongside and circling the mother ship until later in the evening when she was green lighted to send the ship’s visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) team. The team launched from the port side of Bunker Hill and navigated their way toward the mother ship under the aid of helicopter See PIRATE, Page 10 10 Bunker Hill Patriot PIRATE, from Page 9 and ship’s spot lights. The VBSS team’s coxswain maneuvered next to the vessel, allowing the team to board the mother ship. Once on board, the team cleared the vessel of various small arms, RPG munitions, and other weapons, while gathering numerous cell phones, guidance systems, documents, and intelligence. They departed the mother ship after apprehending the vessels skiff and returned to Bunker Hill. The process took under an hour, and the skiff was sunk later that night by a 25mm cannon. “All hands should take pride in what they accomplished today,” said Capt. Dominic DeScisciolo, Commanding Officer of USS Bunker Hill, “under ambiguous conditions, you responded very professionally, quickly, and successfully.”