Before this April, the USS Bainbridge and the Maersk Alabama had nothing more but the open sea in common.
The two crews were brought together during one of the Navy's largest counter piracy missions when Somali pirates hijacked the Maersk Alabama, capturing the ship's captain, Richard Phillips.
The Bainbridge was sent to rescue him.
Now, months after Capt. Philips returned home and the the USS Bainbridge returned to her port, the city of Norfolk has announced plans to bring Capt. Phillips and the Bainbridge crew together for the first time since the rescue.
The actual reunion will happen on board the USS Bainbridge, which will be docked, at the downtown Norfolk waterfront.
During this ceremony, Capt. Phillips will meet with the crew who saved his life in one of the most dramatic rescues at sea.
"A life-changing experience," the ship's commanding Officer Frank Castellano said, "has brought together strangers, who have now become friends."
Castellano added, "Capt. Phillips sent a package to us while we were on a deployment. He sent us a Vermont state flag, we sent him pirate ball caps that we had made. So it was a nice exchange."
The two crews were brought together during one of the Navy's largest counter piracy missions when Somali pirates hijacked the Maersk Alabama, capturing the ship's captain, Richard Phillips.
The Bainbridge was sent to rescue him.
Now, months after Capt. Philips returned home and the the USS Bainbridge returned to her port, the city of Norfolk has announced plans to bring Capt. Phillips and the Bainbridge crew together for the first time since the rescue.
The actual reunion will happen on board the USS Bainbridge, which will be docked, at the downtown Norfolk waterfront.
During this ceremony, Capt. Phillips will meet with the crew who saved his life in one of the most dramatic rescues at sea.
"A life-changing experience," the ship's commanding Officer Frank Castellano said, "has brought together strangers, who have now become friends."
Castellano added, "Capt. Phillips sent a package to us while we were on a deployment. He sent us a Vermont state flag, we sent him pirate ball caps that we had made. So it was a nice exchange."
