JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, HAWAII—The guided-missile destroyer USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. arrived at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on Monday following a deployment that encompassed 40 days of combat operations and six months in an active combat zone. The ship was welcomed by crowds of family and friends, who cheered as the vessel docked.
Originally assigned to operations in the South China Sea, the Petersen was redirected to the Middle East in late January, shortly before Operation Epic Fury commenced. The destroyer participated in the conflict’s initial airstrikes on Iran on February 28, launching Tomahawk missiles at designated targets. As the strike group’s air and missile defense commander, the ship successfully intercepted more than 100 Iranian missiles and drones aimed at its task force and other regional vessels.
“We ensured the safety of dozens of ships against various threats, including missiles and drones,” said Captain Casey Mahon, the ship’s commanding officer.
The recently commissioned (2022) destroyer logged over 85,000 nautical miles during its deployment, conducting 45 at-sea replenishments. At one point, it remained deployed for 106 consecutive days between port calls. It also became the first U.S. warship to transit the Strait of Hormuz after major combat operations concluded, a passage Mahon described as “quite a voyage.”
“The stress was intense—under the sea, on the sea, and in the air,” Mahon noted. While adversary technology proved challenging, he emphasized that air defense principles remain consistent with historical practices: detect, track, and neutralize threats. The crew’s adaptability and the ship’s systems proved critical in countering evolving tactics.
Lessons learned during the deployment, including endurance management and countering new threat profiles, have already been shared with other ships operating in the region. “Whether in the Arabian Sea or South China Sea, mission readiness remains our priority,” Mahon affirmed.
The crew’s personal accounts highlighted the emotional toll and resilience required. Petty Officer 1st Class Ryhean Tucker, who reunited with his family upon the ship’s arrival, described the deployment as “stressful but manageable.” His wife echoed the challenge, balancing childcare and relocation from Virginia to Hawaii. “It was a big job, but we did it,” she said.
Captain Mahon’s spouse, Alysha Nishikawa, shared her own perspective: “I tried to project positivity and reassure my husband that we were okay so he could focus on his duties.”
