Greetings SAN ANTONIO Families and Friends, Happy Holidays!
Your Sailors and Marines are all doing very well and continue to accomplish many great things on our maiden deployment. We completed needed voyage repairs in Bahrain in late November. Prior to our departure, the Secretary of the Navy, the Honorable Donald C. Winter, visited the ship. Secretary Winter toured the ship and then took time to frock our newly promoted Petty Officer’s, answer some questions, and even reenlist one of our Sailors. It was a great visit and a good morale boost for the crew.
Upon leaving Bahrain, the ship served as an Afloat Forward Staging Base (AFSB) in support of Operation TRIDENT KNIGHT. Our Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) Teams conducted numerous approach and visit operations on local fishing dhows, gathering information on local maritime activity and strengthening our partnerships with the regional Navies and Coast Guards. We embarked a small staff element, a first for SAN ANTONIO in an operational environment, and hosted a VIP visit and dinner for two Qatari Naval Officers. Overall, it was a great operation for us and showcased the Command and Control capabilities of our great ship.
We took a brief operational pause for Thanksgiving. The Supply Department and Culinary Specialists put on an incredible, traditional feast of turkey, ham, and all the trimmings, including pumpkin pie for dessert. It was a nice afternoon for the whole crew.
In December, we embarked a Marine Aviation Element of 4 AH-1W Cobra helicopters and 2 UH-1N Huey helicopters for a week of flight OPS and exercises. It was a great opportunity for Air Department to showcase the aviation capabilities of SAN ANTONIO.
Two COBRAs work SAN ANTONIO’s deck edge spots
SAN ANTONIO got the call yesterday to assist another US Navy ship that was having some propulsion issues. We arrived on scene and determined that the ship would have to be towed to Bahrain. Towing another ship is one of the most challenging evolutions we do as Surface Warriors. AS always the crew, especially Deck Department, did an outstanding job and we were able to get the ship back to port safely and without incident.
Deck Department readies the towing hawser for action!
The ship will conduct a port visit in Bahrain for a Holiday Stand-down and much deserved rest. We will begin the New Year with several Marine Corps training and operational exercise events. This will be my last Familygram as the Commanding Officer in SAN ANTONIO. I will be relieved by CDR Eric Cash on 17 December after 17 months that I will never forget. I am headed to the Afloat Training Group in Norfolk, Virginia to be the Commanding Officer of Engineering Assessment for the Atlantic Fleet. It has been my honor and privilege to serve in this ship and with this crew. I wish you all the Happiest of Holidays and all the best in the New Year! Thank you for your support and for making this tour extremely rewarding.
With Respect and Admiration,
CDR Kurt KastnerCommanding OfficerUSS SAN ANTONIO (LPD 17)
"Never Retreat, Never Surrender"
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