On Saturday, 27 July, 15 NOUS Northwest companions and guests were treated to a personal tour of USS RALPH JOHNSON (DDG 114) by the ship’s commanding officer, CDR Casey M. Mahon, USN (in the photograph below). The two-hour tour was extensive and very informative and included all spaces, concluding with CIC and the Bridge. One of our companions said of the event: “It was our best event ever – we all sure enjoyed it.”
Our Commandery’s attendance included CAPT Ken and Karen Simpson (up from Kalamath Falls OR) and CAPT John and Polly Derr (from Anacortes, WA), with this being the first NOUS Northwest activity for both couples. Welcome to you all!
Also present were companions and guests: Mark and Michelle Thompson; Harry and Nancy Stengele; Floyd and Carol Kershner; John Gertner; our skipper John Laible; and Joe and Cindy Valenta with their son-in-law, Brad Aungst.
RALPH JOHNSON is a 510 foot-long Arleigh Burke Class Aegis guided missile destroyer (DDG), which was commissioned in March 2018 at Charleston, South Carolina. Following that event, the vessel later arrived at its homeport in Everett, WA in early 2019! (Our own backyard!).
A great time was had by all in recalling those wonderful times at sea in by gone days…and many thanks to our fellow NOUS companion, CDR Mahon for his efforts to personally arrange the visit and conduct our tour. Bravo Zulu!
Additional photos are posted in our POST-EVENT BLOG 2019 and can be accessed by clicking here: https://nousnorthwest.org/2916-2/
Naval Order of the US - Northwest 