The guided-missile destroyer USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112)  arrived from Hawaii on a visit to Fiji on January 27th.

According  to the American Embassy, ship visits provide excellent opportunities for the United States and Pacific Island nations to strengthen security cooperation and help to ensure a safer and more prosperous future for the region.

On January 27th about 15 to 20 US Navy personnel visited and helped clean up the Samabula Senior Citizen’s Home yesterday.

The aim of the visit was to build community relations with the people of Fiji.

Event team leader, Enlisted Sailor 6 (E6), Jerrica Johnson said she felt proud of being a female Navy officer and  of being a part of the community relations team.

“We had talks with the Embassy officials and they gave us the idea to visit the Senior Citizen’s Home.

“It definitely got all of us very much excited and doing all we can to help the community here in Fiji as we wish to build strong community relations with Fiji,” E6 Johnson said.

She said being a female was never a challenge for her in the Navy.

The ship and crew of more than 300 sailors departed from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on January 13 for a regularly scheduled Western Pacific deployment.  While in the Pacific, the USS Michael Murphy will conduct Oceania Maritime Security Initiative (OMSI) activities in support of Pacific Island nations’ maritime law enforcement operations.

This ship is commanded by Cmdr. Robert A. Heely Jr.  Commissioned October 6, 2012, the vessel is named after Navy SEAL Lt. Michael P. Murphy who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during Operation Red Wings in Afghanistan, June 28, 2005.  Murphy was the first person to be awarded the medal for actions in Afghanistan and was the first member of the U.S. Navy to receive the award since the Vietnam War.

The USS Michael Murphy (DDG-112)  is the 62nd ship of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. She is named for Medal of Honor recipient Michael P. Murphy  (1976–2005). Her contract was awarded on 13 September 2002 to the Bath Iron Works and Vice Admiral John Morgan, the first commanding officer of Arleigh Burke, made the first cut of steel. DDG-112  was named Michael Murphy  by Secretary of the Navy, Donald C. Winter on 7 May 2008 and her keel was laid down on 18 June 2010. The ship was christened on 7 May 2011, Murphy’s birthday, by her sponsor Maureen Murphy, Michael Murphy’s mother.