On Tuesday, the USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) celebrated 25 years of commissioned service with a ceremony attended by three of the ship's former commanding officers and ship sponsor Cindy Hensley McCain.
“My family and I are honored to be included in the 25th Anniversary of the commissioning of the USS John McCain. As the ship's sponsor, I got to play a role in her commissioning. This ship serves as a symbol of our family's legacy of service to the country,” said Cindy McCain. “The crew of the USS McCain sails to defend the interests and values of our country, and wherever they go, the spirits of John Sidney McCain, Senior, Junior and the Third, sail with them.”
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McCain was commissioned on July 2, 1994, in Bath, Maine and was originally named in honor of Admirals John S. McCain Sr. and Jr. In a rededication ceremony on July 12, 2018, the late Sen. John S. McCain III was officially added to the namesake.
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During the ceremony, Mrs. McCain was presented with a painting of her late husband, Sen. John McCain. The portrait will hang on board the warship alongside portraits of Sen. McCain's father and grandfather.
The anniversary ceremony also included a change of command. Current commanding officer of John S. McCain, Cmdr. Micah Murphy, relinquished command to Cmdr. Ryan Easterday.
Murphy's tour began at the same time the ship arrived in Tokyo Harbor back in December of 2017, following a collision at sea that August. From there, he worked to rebuild and upgrade the ship to return a more capable and lethal ship to the fleet. He also worked to restore its crew - their skill, pride, and the fighting spirit that has long been associated with the “Big Bad John.” Addressing the assembled crew, guests and visitors, family and friends, Cmdr. Murphy acknowledged the unconventional nature of his tour, and his excitement for the next phase of the ship's life.
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"Sailors love to tell sea stories - not shipyard stories,"Murphy said during an All Hands Call the day before ceremony. "It's when you are underway that you really start to gel as a team, where we get to know each other better, really learn your craft."