Eastport's welcoming spirit shines through for Navy ship’s crew

     Eastport's welcoming spirit once again shone through the sometimes foggy weather to greet the officers and crew of the USS Farragut, DDG-99, the guided missile destroyer that was in port from July 2 through 7 for the city's Fourth of July celebration. The island city has hosted U.S. Navy ships since the 1860s, with at least 34 ships over the past 45 years.
      Commander Andrew Timpner, the ship's captain, comments, "I've never been with a U.S. Navy port visit where everyone was as friendly as they've been here. It's the friendliest port I've ever been in." Local residents were telling him stories about the Navy ships that have previously come to Eastport and why the Navy sends a ship to the island city's Fourth. "Their enthusiasm for our ship and the Navy has been really special." While tropical ports may impress the crew with their scenery, "here we've been overwhelmed by the welcome. It's been really nice."
      Bob Peacock of Eastport, who was in the U.S. Navy Reserve for over 30 years and helps arrange for the visits by the Navy ships to the city, says, "At least 10 officers and crew said this is the best port they've ever been to." He adds, "It's not for what we have but for what we don't have," which includes the lack of crime.
      Of the Quoddy area, Timpner says, "It's stunningly gorgeous" and reminds him of the Pacific Northwest, where the hills and islands funnel the wind, which can affect the ship's movement. While there was a great deal of fog in the Bay of Fundy, it opened up before the ship reached East Quoddy Head on Campobello, and "we could see the islands and headlands. It's gorgeous out there." Captain Gerald Morrison of Perry served as harbor pilot, and Timpner says the tides and currents in Head Harbour Passage "were a challenge but rewarding," as Morrison did a good job bringing the ship into port.
      While the USS Gravely had been scheduled to come to Eastport this year, that ship was not able to, so the Farragut came instead. "The Navy still wanted to support this port visit," he notes. While it was short notice, with the crew learning about the change on June 20, Timpner says he knew that Navy ships went to Eastport for the Fourth, although he had never been to Maine before. Growing up in Michigan near the Great Lakes, he says, "Since I was a little kid I wanted to join the Navy and see the world." He's now been in the Navy for 18 years, with two years aboard the Farragut.
      In the past, the ship has been deployed to the Mediterranean, the Red Sea and Persian Gulf and most recently to the Caribbean, conducting counter-narcotics operations in 2023. The ship's homeport is Mayport, Fla. The ship may be deployed again next year, but he has "no idea where we may be headed."
      The ship, which was built at Bath Iron Works, was commissioned in 2006, but in 2022 the forward arrays of radars failed, and it's been a two-year process to replace them. Two arrays from an older cruiser were used, so "we needed to make sure the older arrays worked on the newer ship." They also needed to ensure that all of the components were working well, with part of the arrays being rebuilt, and that all of the crew were trained for deployment. The ship has been tied up for over a year, with work being done on her, along with trainings for the crew and inspections.
      While the visit to Eastport was unexpected, "We were thrilled with the opportunity," he says, noting that most ships that are in their basic phase do not get such an opportunity "to do something fun."

Participating in 'once in a lifetime' events

      While the ship was just arriving at the breakwater when the talent show was going on, Timpner says a number would have participated in the show. "They would have loved that."
      The sailors, though, did participate in a number of the events over the Fourth. The Navy team won the Firemen's Muster, competing against local fire departments and the U.S. Coast Guard team. They also had two teams in the Codfish Relay, with Timpner among those entering the contest, carrying the fish in his teeth and calling it "a once in a lifetime event." In a basketball game against Shead alumni, the Navy won 64 to 42. He observes that Eastport had won 30 of the 38 games that have been played over the past years, but "now Eastport's won 30 and the Navy 9, courtesy of the Farragut." He notes that many of the sailors on the ship play basketball.
      A contingent of about 60 sailors, out of the 260 aboard the ship, marched in the parade, and while not beating the record of 218, Timpner says they all volunteered to take part, so they "looked sharp and marched well. I'm very proud of how they looked." Some sailors not only marched during the Fourth but also ran, with several taking part in the 7-mile Independence Run on Sunday morning. Later on Sunday morning Timpner was headed out to a wiffle ball game that Horn Run Brewing organized.
      He says that watching the fireworks being set off not only in Eastport but also at Deer Island, Campobello and Lubec from the flight deck of the ship was great, "with four displays for the price of one port visit." His family, who came up from Florida to see him, watched the fireworks, and his four-year-old daughter "loved it." He was worried she might be afraid of the loud noises, but "she was clapping and yelling."
      "We're extremely grateful for the welcome we received and the support and hospitality everyone has shown us, both officially from the port authority and the city and unofficially from the restaurants and ships around town that have invited us to events like the alumni game."
      He adds, "The sailors really appreciate that. In the midst of the training cycle, it reminds us that what we do is pretty special. To come here and be reminded of that in the best way is something that every sailor will remember for the rest of their careers."