Amphibious ship Ponce returns today from final cruise

By Kate Wiltrout
The Virginian-Pilot
© December 2, 2011

After more than 40 years of service, the Navy ship Ponce will steam into Norfolk for the last time today, returning from a final visit to the Puerto Rican city for which it is named.

The amphibious transport dock departed in late October to visit Florida, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the port of Ponce in southern Puerto Rico.

The Ponce will be decommissioned in March, then towed to an inactive ship facility in Philadelphia. According to a Navy news release, the ship steamed more than 1.6 million miles and participated in 31 major operations since being commissioned in 1971.

Skippered by Cmdr. Cole Hayes, the Ponce has a crew of 332 sailors and 28 officers.

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Posted to: Military Norfolk

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