Destroyer USS Gravely departs Yorktown to reinforce southern U.S. border
The USS Gravely left the Naval Weapons Station in Yorktown on Saturday on a deployment to the Gulf Coast to buttress security at the southern border.
The deployment is part of the military's efforts to comply with President Donald Trump's executive order regarding border security. The USS Gravely is a Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer that was deployed to the Red Sea along with the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in 2023 as part of a strike group that engaged with the Houthi rebels.
'Gravely's sea-going capacity improves our ability to protect the United States' territorial integrity, sovereignty, and security,' said Gen. Gregory Guillot, commander, U.S. Northern Command, in a news release.
There will be a U.S. Coast Guard law enforcement detachment aboard the Gravely, according to the Navy. The detachment's duties have traditionally included counter-piracy, military combat operations, addressing immigration, counter terrorism and homeland security.
Gavin Stone, 757-712-4806, gavin.stone@virginiamedia.com
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