Crew members from the guided missile destroyer USS Sampson (DDG 102) gathered on the ship’s messdecks Oct. 3 to observe the ship’s seventh birthday since commissioning.
In honor of the ship’s birthday, Master Chief Fire Controlman Alfredo Pargas, the ship’s oldest Sailor, and Operations Specialist 3rd Class Gary Raynard Brown Jr., the ship’s youngest Sailor, cut the ceremonial cake for the crew.
On this day seven years ago, DDG 102 became the fourth ship to bear the name of Rear Adm. William T. Sampson. Clara Parsons, the great-granddaughter of Rear Adm. Sampson, served as the ship’s sponsor and was in attendance at the commissioning ceremony.
Since that day, Sampson Sailors have fostered a proud legacy of devotion to duty, superb professionalism, and unparalleled work ethic that continues to be carried into the ship’s third Western Pacific deployment which began Oct 31.
Press release, Image: US Navy