The guided missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG-70) and Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 49 have returned to their homeport of Naval Station San Diego after a deployment to the U.S. 3rd and 7th Fleet areas of operations, according to the Department of Defense.
Lake Erie conducted Enforcement Coordination Cell operations while in the Western Pacific, which included monitoring shipping vessels in support of United Nations sanctions against North Korea.
“I couldn’t be more proud of this crew and the way they handled themselves during this unique deployment,” said Capt. Christine O’Connell, commanding officer aboard Lake Erie. “Our efforts operating forward were in support of a multinational coalition bringing unity and reassurance to areas of uncertainty in the Western Pacific and the Lake Erie crew excelled through every challenge faced in that dynamic environment. We are all looking forward to hard-earned rest with loved ones.”
Lake Erie covered 52,000 nautical miles, and participated in community relation events that included teaching English while in Japan and helping clean a school house in South Korea.
