Bainbridge sailors honored by Petraeus

MANAMA, Bahrain - Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander, U.S. Central Command, visited the Norfolk-based guided-missile destroyer USS Bainbridge (DDG 96) Monday while it was in port in Bahrain to thank the sailors for their hard work while deployed.

Petraeus also congratulated the crew on their role in the successful rescue of Richard Phillips, the Maersk Alabama captain held captive by Somali pirates for five days in April.

Petraeus held an 'all hands' call with Bainbridge's crew and also presented awards to three sailors who were honored for their actions during Capt. Phillips' rescue from pirates.

"The eyes of the world were upon you that Easter weekend," said Petraeus. "You played important roles and should be proud of what you did. In moments of danger and decision during the rescue of Captain Phillips, you did what you were trained to do. You remembered your skills. You did your duty. You stood your watch. And you brought Captain Phillips home alive."

Petraeus presented Senior Chief Intelligence Specialist Joel Steinbach with the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal to both Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Mattew Olin and Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Joshua Waters for their exemplary service during the rescue.

Steinbach served as the chief negotiator and liaison between the FBI's Critical Incident Response Group/Crisis Negotiation Unit during hostage negotiation efforts between Bainbridge and the pirates holding Phillips.

Olin and Waters are credited with leading a boat crew in the successful covert recovery of U.S. Navy SEALs, continuing to serve as Coxswain for subsequent approaches by their boats to the pirate lifeboat holding Phillips despite coming under hostile fire on the initial approach, and navigating their boats alongside the lifeboat to facilitate direct negotiations for the release and subsequent rescue of Phillips.

Bainbridge Commanding Officer Cmdr. Frank X. Castellano said it was an honor to host Gen. Petraeus and praised his crew for their role in the rescue and counter-piracy operations.

"The success of Captain Phillips' rescue belongs not to a single commander or a team of SEALs," said Castellano. "Those few days belong to everyone involved - officers and enlisted, not on one ship, but several - who diligently stood their watch. It belongs to the many."

Compiled by report from Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nathan Schaeffer.