Cmdr. Nathan Wemett, the commanding officer of the guided-missile destroyer USS Kidd (DDG 100), released the following open letter to the San Diego region as the ship departed the city to continue her scheduled deployment, June 10.
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Today, the men and women of USS Kidd (DDG 100) return to sea to resume our mission, and we do so because of the support of the San Diego region. On behalf of our crew and our families, thank you, San Diego.
On April 28, we arrived in San Diego following a coronavirus outbreak at sea. Our priority was – and remains – to take care of our Sailors. The San Diego region helped us do that by extending your collective arms and helping us respond to and recover from this insidious virus. Specifically, the support we received from USS Makin Island (LHD 8), Commander, Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 3, USS Shoup (DDG 86), USS Stockdale (DDG 106), USNS Miguel Keith (ESB 5), Naval Medical Center San Diego, and Naval Base San Diego was exemplary.
With the care of military and local health professionals, as well as support from military leadership, shipmates along the waterfront, and area businesses, we fought this invisible enemy and cleaned our ship. A ship, however, is nothing without its people. Thank you for supporting and caring for our people, and showing why San Diego is known as America’s Finest City.
Today, we return to sea stronger as a result of the combined efforts of the region and the Navy. Because of that partnership, USS Kidd sails away to continue its mission of providing security and stability to our Nation and her allies, while operating forward, where and when it matters.
