Source: United States Navy
More than 50 original plank owners and maiden voyagers attended the ceremony in which the ship’s second command master chief, retired Force Master Chief Bob Conklin, as well as current Commanding Officer, Capt. Joseph Murphy III, delivered remarks.
“I am beyond proud to be the 18th commanding officer of this amazing team and I am grateful to be a part of the proud history of this ship and her namesake,” said Murphy. “Today is more than just an acknowledgement of the ship’s commissioning. It’s a time to honor the ship’s past, and prepare for her future.”
Guests who attended the ceremony were also treated to a video presentation by the ship’s media department, a ceremonial cake cutting, and ship tours following the ceremony.
Bataan, a multi-purpose amphibious assault ship, carries more than 2,500 Sailors and Marines when fully embarked, and is the fifth ship of the Navy’s Wasp-class ships. She was commissioned Sept. 20, 1997, and is the second U.S. Navy warship to bear the name. CVL-29 was an Independence-class small aircraft carrier that was commissioned in November 1943. After serving in both World War II and the Korean conflict, CVL-29 was decommissioned in 1954.
The ship made its maiden voyage deploying to the Mediterranean in 2000. Most recently, the ship completed 152 consecutive days at sea during a seven-month deployment to 5th and 6th fleet, operating during the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic.
For more information about Bataan, visit the ship’s website at https://www.c2f.usff.navy.mil/lhd5.