<< Previous   of   Next >> (click to enlarge) USS Ingraham Damage Controlman 3rd Class Ronald Marcelin greets his wife, Natadia, and daughter, Gabrielle, on Friday. Ronald Marcelin said he is very excited to spend some time with his family since Gabrielle was born while the USS Ingraham was deployed. Darren Breen / The Herald  (click to enlarge) Leslie Gonzalez (left), Heather Elliott (center) and Bambi Dyer watch the USS Ingraham dock at Naval Station Everett on Friday after it returned from a deployment in the western Pacific Ocean and the Persian Gulf. (click to enlarge) The USS Ingraham returns from deployment on Friday.

Photo Gallery: USS Ingraham comes home

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Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com

USS Ingraham returns to Naval Station Everett

By Justin Arnold
Herald Writer

EVERETT -- The sun shined on the USS Ingraham's homecoming.

More than 100 friends and family with homemade signs waited on the dock of Naval Station Everett, cheering as the guided-missile frigate made port.

On that ship, supervising the gas turbine power plant that generates the Ingraham's propulsion, was Chief Ernest Cordova.

Ashore, his son Jake, 13, held a sign that said "Welcome Home Retiree!" while standing next to his mother, Tracy, and sister, Ashley, 14.

"After serving for 21 years, this is his last tour, his last time stepping off a ship," Tracy Cordova said. "He's retiring from the Navy, but I've got plenty of things for him to do around the house to keep him busy."

According to Navy tradition, new fathers are allowed to leave the ship first. New mothers stand by with bundled babies ready to introduce them to their fathers.

As the sailors began to leave the ship, Cmdr. Matthew Ovios gave the order to allow friends and family to board the Ingraham.

"It was a long deployment and our sailors performed exceptionally," Ovios said. "There are still sailors aboard ship who are on duty. After six months, they deserve to see their families."

The city of Marysville was well represented as members of the city government were on hand to welcome the ship home -- a ship that they have adopted.

"Marysville adopted the ship for a variety of reasons. So many Navy men and women call Marysville home, we have the base exchange in the city, and the chapel," Councilwoman Donna Wright said. "We want to show how much we care, so being here is important."

The Ingraham returns after a six-month deployment to the Persian Gulf as part of the Tarawa Expeditionary Strike Group, participating in various exercises with Egyptian, Saudi Arabian and United Arab Emirates navies.

It was during their deployment that the Ingraham gained international attention when the ship, along with the USS Hopper and USS Port Royal, were approached in a threatening manner by five Iranian high-speed boats while sailing through the Strait of Hormuz.

The Ingraham, equipped with a 76mm naval gun and four .50-caliber machine guns, was prepared to fight.

"The crew reacted exactly as they were trained. Hard work and preparation paid off," Ovios said. "They were prepared to defend themselves."

The Ingraham has not yet released any information regarding future deployments. Until then, the crew plans on reuniting with family and enjoying some rest and relaxation amongst landlubbers.

"The crew has earned their time off and what better place than the Pacific Northwest?" Ovios said. "It's good to be home."



Reporter Justin Arnold: 425-339-3432 or jarnold@heraldnet.com.