On June 17, 2017 Fitzgerald collided with Philippines-flagged container ship MV ACX Crystal, 56 nautical miles southwest of Yokosuka, Japan. Chief Fireplace Controlman Gary Rehm, Gunner’s Mate 1st Class Noe Hernandez, Personnel Specialist 1st Class Xavier A. Martin, Fireplace Controlman 1st Class Carlos V. Sibayan, Yeoman third Class Shingo A. Douglass, Sonar Technician (Floor) third Class Ngoc T. Truong and Gunner’s Mate Seaman Dakota Okay. Rigsby, all perished within the subsequent flooding of their berthing.
Fitzgerald flew the ship remembrance flag all through the day. The ceremony started with an invocation from Chaplain Brandon Greene over the 1MC to honor the fallen and the security of all crews at sea.
Cmdr. David Catterall, commanding officer of Fitzgerald, additionally spoke to the crew.
“We should always remember the fallen, they made the last word sacrifice,” stated Catterall. “Day by day we’re out right here, we should always remember the damaging nature of our jobs and why readiness and security should at all times be on the forefront.”
Fitzgerald is on its first deployment because the collision and is at present serving within the U.S seventh Fleet.
The ship gained the CY21 VADM Thomas Copeman III materials readiness award, demonstrating the workforce understands that the muse of a protected deployment is materials readiness.
“Our coaching and watch {qualifications} keep adherence to group necessities, whereas being underpinned by an intensive and efficient briefing and debriefing course of that ensures classes realized are classes utilized to future evolutions,” stated Catterall.
Fitzgerald is on a scheduled deployment within the seventh Fleet space of operations to reinforce interoperability via alliances and partnerships whereas serving as a ready-response pressure in assist of a free and open Indo-Pacific area.
