USS Ingersoll decommissioned


NAVY WIRE SERVICE - A WIRE (NWSA) - 31 July 1998 

NWSA31jul-3. by JO1 David Nagle, Naval Base Pearl Harbor Public
Affairs
     PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (NWSA) -- USS Ingersoll (DD
990) was decommissioned July 24 during a ceremony at
Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
     "Continuous change has been the history of our Navy
for more than 200 years," RADM William Sutton,
Commander, Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific, said.
"As the world changes around us into a more complex and
technologically driven society, so too the Navy must
evolve with newer ships, submarines and aircraft to
maintain our capability to remain forward deployed
around the world, influencing events in real time. The
decommissioning of Ingersoll is a step in this evolution
of change for the future."
     Following her commissioning April 12, 1980,
Ingersoll was homeported in San Diego. She moved to
Pearl Harbor in April 1987. During 18 years of service,
Ingersoll completed eight deployments to the western
Pacific and Arabian Gulf and visited 43 ports in 20
different countries.
     During her most recent deployment from November
1997 to May 1998, Ingersoll participated in Maritime
Interdiction Operations in the Arabian Gulf in support
of United Nations sanctions against Iraq. In 1981,
Ingersoll earned the Humanitarian Service Medal for the
rescue of 39 refugees in the South China Sea.
     "This ship is more than a piece of steel," CDR Ray
Snell, Ingersoll's Commanding Officer said. "It's a
combination of the best technology the world can provide
and the best Sailors who have ever gone to sea. Every
member of the crew will take a little piece of Ingersoll
with them wherever they go from here."
     Fire Controlman 2nd Class Walter Debu of San Diego
will report to USS Lake Erie (CG 70). He is one of about
100 Ingersoll Sailors who selected follow-on assignments
in Pearl Harbor. He said, "There's been some good
memories here and I've made a lot of good friends."
     The ex-Ingersoll will remain in Hawaii at the
Inactive Ship Anchorage in Pearl Harbor.
                               -USN-