USS Halyburton

## USS Halyburton (FFG-40)

USS Halyburton

**USS *Halyburton* (FFG-40)**, an *Oliver Hazard Perry*-class frigate, is a ship of the United States Navy named for Pharmacist's Mate Second Class William D. Halyburton Jr. (1924–1945). Halyburton was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism while serving with the 5th Marines, during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945.

### Construction

*Halyburton* was laid down on September 26, 1980 by the Todd Pacific Shipyards Co., Seattle Division, Seattle, Washington; launched on October 13, 1981, sponsored by Mrs. William David Halyburton Sr., mother of PhM2 Halyburton; and commissioned on January 7, 1984.

### Service History

Over its commissioned service, *Halyburton* earned numerous Battle 'E' awards for combat readiness. *Halyburton* was also one of the escorts for USS *Constitution* on July 21, 1997 as "Old Ironsides" celebrated her 200th birthday and her first unassisted sail in 116 years.

On April 8, 2009, Somalian pirates captured U.S.-flagged motor vessel *Maersk Alabama* and her 22 crewmembers, 300 miles from the Somali coast. The crew recaptured their ship along with one of the pirates, but the three surviving pirates held the vessel’s master, Capt. Richard Phillips, hostage on a lifeboat. *Halyburton* was part of a U.S. Navy rescue mission, along with amphibious assault ship *Boxer* (LHD-4), guided missile destroyer *Bainbridge* (DDG-96), off the Horn of Africa. A ScanEagle unmanned aircraft system provided timely intelligence during the confrontation. U.S. Navy SEALs, on board *Bainbridge*, brought the standoff to an end by simultaneously shooting and killing all three pirates in the lifeboat, then being towed by *Bainbridge*, and rescued Phillips on April 12. The fourth pirate was on board USS *Bainbridge* at the time of the shooting, negotiating the hostage's release, and was taken into custody.

On July 16, 2009, *Halyburton* visited the Port of London, mooring in South Dock, West India Quay for three nights. On Saturday July 18, she became the first non-British ship to take part in the Tower of London's Constable's Dues ritual. Dating back to the 14th century, the ceremony involved the crew being challenged for entry into the British capital, mirroring an ancient custom in which a ship had to unload some of its cargo for the sovereign to enter the city. Commander Michael P Huck and Ship's Officer, Lieutenant Commander Tony Mortimer led the crew to the Tower's West Gate, where after being challenged for entry by the Yeoman Gaoler armed with his axe, they were marched to Tower Green accompanied by Yeoman Warders, where they delivered a keg of Castillo Silver Rum, representing the dues, to the Tower's Constable, Sir Roger Wheeler.

*Halyburton* departed her homeport of Naval Station Mayport in January 2014, for her final deployment. She was scheduled to be decommissioned in late 2014.

On February 6, 2014, a Panamanian helicopter crashed while working with *Halyburton* on illicit trafficking operations. The Bell 412 helicopter had nine people aboard, one of whom died in the crash.

*Halyburton* was ceremonially decommissioned on September 6, 2014, at Naval Station Mayport. *Halyburton* was formally decommissioned and struck from the Naval Vessel Register, September 8, 2014. Ex-*Halyburton* was listed as being berthed at the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. For a time it was thought that she might be transferred to the Turkish Navy in 2015. In 2013, a bill to transfer *Halyburton* to Turkey in 2015 passed the US House of Representatives. However, the Senate did not take action on the bill and it did not become law.