Readout of Secretary Hagel’s Call to Commanding Officer of the USS Barry Operating in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea
September 11, 2013

Pentagon Press Secretary George Little provided the following readout of Secretary Hagel’s Call to Commanding Officer of the USS Barry Operating in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea:

This afternoon, Secretary Hagel called U.S. Navy Commander Tom Dickinson, the Commanding Officer of the USS Barry (DDG-52), an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer operating in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.

Secretary Hagel thanked Cmdr. Dickinson and his sailors for their service during this period of heightened readiness. Last month, the USS Barry was ordered to remain at sea beyond their scheduled deployment in preparation for military action against the Syrian regime. Secretary Hagel commended the USS Barry and the other ships in her group for maintaining their posture and ensuring that the United States military can carry out the orders of the commander-in-chief, if called upon. He asked Cmdr. Dickinson to relay to all sailors aboard that on the anniversary of Sept. 11, the secretary is proud of the men and women of the U.S. Navy who safeguard our nation far from home.

A photo of Secretary Hagel calling Commander Dickinson can be found here: