The Halyburton (FFG 40) is the 31st Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate and is named for the late Pharmacist's Mate Second Class William David Halyburton, Jr., who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, for his heroic action on the Island of Okinawa in World War II. The keel was laid down on September 26, 1980, by Todd Pacific Shipyards Corp., Seattle Division. The ship was christened and launched on October 31, 1981. USS Halyburton was commissioned on January 7, 1984 at Seattle, Wash; Cmdr. Robert K. Peters is the first commanding officer.

January 18, 2001 USS Halyburton departed Naval Station Mayport for Group Sail operations in the Puerto Rican Op. Area. Brief stop in Key West, Fla., to refuel on Jan. 23; Inport Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, P.R., from Jan. 27-28; Port visit to St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, from Feb. 2-6; Returned home on Feb. 9.

March 9, USS Halyburton departed Mayport, with an embarked Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 44 Det. 5, for a scheduled deployment in support of Counter Drug Operations.

March 15, The guided-missile frigate moored at Vasco Nunez de Balboa Naval Base for a two-day port call to refuel after transiting Panama Canal. Inport Balboa, Panama, again from March 29-31.

April 5, The Halyburton anchored off Esmeraldes, Ecuador, to transfer 149 imigrants that were rescued from M/V Fortuna on April 2. Inport Vasco Nunez de Balboa for refuel from April 11-13 and April 29- May 3 for a liberty visit to Panama City.

May 11, USS Halyburton and its embarked U.S. Coast Guard team retrieved around 3300 pounds of cocaine after interdicted a "go-fast" speed boat in the eastern Pacific. Brief stop in Balboa on May 14 before transiting Panama Canal northbound.

May 18, FFG 40 returned to Naval Station Mayport for a two-week mid-deployment Intermediate Maintenance Availability (IMAV). Underway again on June 4; Inport Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, from June 8-9.

June 19, USS Halyburton pulled into Oranjestad, Netherlands Antilles, for a three-day visit to Aruba Island. Inport Balboa Naval Base to refuel from June 25-26 after transiting Panama Canal southbound.

July 2, The Halyburton moored at Callao naval base for a week-long port visit to Lima, Peru, before participating in a bilateral exercises with the Peruvian Navy; Brief stop in Callao on July 10 for debrief; Anchored off Salinas, Ecuador, from July 14-17; Inport Callao again from July 19-23; Brief stop in Callao on July 27.

August 2, The guided-missile frigate arrived in Malaga, Colombia, for a three-day port call before participating in the Pacific Phase of a multinational exercise UNITAS 42-01. Anchored off Bahia de Malaga from Aug. 7-8; Anchored off Manta, Ecuador, from Aug. 13-14; Inport Vaco Nunez de Balboa from Aug. 16-19; Trasited Panama Canal on Aug. 20; Port visit to Freeport, Bahamas, from Aug. 23-27.

August 28, USS Halyburton returned to homeport after a five-and-a-half month deployment in the U.S. 4th Fleet Area of Responsibility (AoR).

October 1, The Halyburton departed Mayport for ammo offload at Naval Weapons Station Earle, New Jersey. Inport Earle from Oct. 3-5; Inport Naval Station Newport, R.I., for school ship training with the Surface Warfare Officer School (SWOS) from Oct. 7-12; Returned home on Oct. 15 and commenced a five-month Partial Restricted Availability (PRAV).

February 25, 2002 Cmdr. William C. McQuillen relieved Cmdr. Warren E. Rhodes, III as the 11th commanding officer of Halyburton.

From March 13-15, USS Halyburton was underway for sea trials in the Jacksonville Op. Area. Underway for local operations from March 26-28, April 9-12, 22-25, May 8-9 and June 26-28; Underway for Engineering LTT and UD preps. from July 11-12; Underway for routine training from July 17-19; Underway for local operations from July 22-25; Underway for Final Evaluation Problem (FEP) from Aug. 7-8; Underway again on Aug. 26.

August 30, FFG 40 arrived in Gloucester, Mass., for a three-day port visit in conjunction with the Schooner Festival. Returned home on Sept. 6; Underway for INSURV assessment on Sept. 18; Underway for Week One workups from Oct. 23-25; Underway for a Friends and Family Day Cruise in St. John's River on Oct. 30.

November 5, USS Halyburton departed Naval Station Mayport for Group Sail operations in the Puerto Rican Op. Area. Inport Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, P.R., from Nov. 9-10 and 15-17th; Returned home on Nov. 21; Underway Demonstration on Nov. 25.

January 10, 2003 USS Halyburton departed Mayport for a scheduled deployment as part of the NATO's Immediate Reaction Force, Standing Naval Force Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT) in support of Operation Active Endeavor. Brief stop in Rota, Spain, on Jan. 21.

January 25, The guided-missile frigate pulled into Rotterdam, Netherlands, for a two-day port call. Inport Gdynia, Poland, from Jan. 31- Feb. 3 before participating in PASSEX; Port call to Kiel, Germany, from Feb. 8-9; Inport HMNB Portsmouth, England, from Feb. 13-15.

February 19, The Halyburton arrived in Naval Station Rota for a five-day port call before participating in INSTREX 01-03; Inport Rota from March 1-4; Underway for GRUFLEX from March 4-12; Inport Rota again from March 12-14; Underway for Strait of Gibraltar escort duties from March 14-18; Inport Rota from March 18-26; Port call to Gaeta, Italy, from March 29- April 1.

April 10, FFG 40 moored at Aksaz Naval Base for a five-day liberty visit to Marmaris, Turkey. Inport Souda Bay, Greece, from April 24-29 and May 9-13; Inport Aksaz, Turkey, from May 21-28.

June 6, USS Halyburton pulled into Valletta, Malta, for a four-day port call. Port visit to Palma de Mallorca, Spain, from June 26- July 1; Inport Rota, Spain, from July 3-4.

July 7, The Halyburton arrived off the coast of Dakar, Senegal, for the President of the United States (POTUS) security operations. Inport Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, for refuel from July 10-12.

July 21, USS Halyburton returned to homeport after more than a six-month deployment in the U.S. 6th Fleet Area of Responsibility.

From September 8-13, the guided-missile frigate was underway for ammo offload at NWS Yorktown, Va.

September 15, Cmdr. Herbert M. Hadley relieved Cmdr. William C. McQuillen as CO of the Halyburton.

September 17, USS Halyburton commenced a two-month Selected Restricted Availability (SRA) while pierside at Naval Station Mayport. Underway for sea trials from Dec. 16-19.

May 26, 2004 USS Halyburton moored at Homeport Pier in Staten Island, N.Y., for a five-day port visit to New York City to participate in Fleet Week celebration.

July 1, FFG 40 moored at Alabama State Docks in Mobile, Alabama, for a five-day port visit to participate in the Fouth of July festivities.

October 8, USS Hulyburton departed homeport for a scheduled deployment in support of Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF-S) counter-narcotics operations in the U.S. Southern Command AoR and Operation Caper Focus.

October 15, The Halyburton anchored off the coast of Cartagena, Colombia, for a three-day port visit. Anchored of Colon, Panama, from Oct. 18-19.

October 20, The guided-missile frigate moored at Vasco Nunez de Balboa Naval Base for a brief stop to refuel after transiting Panama Canal. Brief stop in Golfito, Costa Rica, on Oct. 26;

November 7, The Halyburton pulled into Manta, Ecuador, for a three-day port visit. Inport Vasco Nunez de Balboa from Nov. 17-23; Brief stop in Golfito on Nov. 30; Port visit to Acapulco, Mexico, from Dec. 10-13; Inport Balboa from Dec. 24-28; Transited Panama Canal northbound on Dec. 29 in support of Operation Caribbean Shield.

December 31, FFG 40 arrived in Cartagena, Colombia, for a scheduled port visit. Returned to Mayport in January for a two-week IMAV.

April 8, 2005 USS Halyburton returned to Naval Station Mayport after a six-month deployment in the U.S. 4th Fleet AoR. Along with USS Boone (FFG 28), she seized nearly eight metric tons of cocaine with a street value of $249 millions.

May 20, Cmdr. William D. Byrne relieved Cmdr. Herbert M. Hadley as commanding officer of Halyburton.

June 30, 2006 USS Halyburton departed Mayport for a surge deployment.

From July 12-14, the Halyburton and Carney (DDG 64) participated in a multinational Silent Forces Exercise (SIFOREX), with the Peruvian and Spanish navies in Peruvian coastal waters.

July 23, FFG 40 recently arrived off the coast of Antofagasta, Chile, to participate in the Pacific Phase of a multinational exercise UNITAS 47-06.

August 18, USS Halyburton is currently participating in a multinational exercise PANAMAX 2006, tailored to the defense of the Panama Canal, involving civil and military forces from the region. The ship recently departed Manta, Ecuador.

In early September, the guided-missile frigate spent two weeks in and around Norfolk, Va., preparing for their next phase of deployment, the British-led joint training exercise, Neptune Warrior; Returned home on Sept. 20 for a two-week mid-deployment IMAV; Underway again on Oct. 6 with the USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG 58) and USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) to join up with various Norfolk-based ships to cross the Atlantic Ocean for waters in and around Scotland in preparation for Neptune Warrior.

November 5, The Halyburton arrived in Rotterdam, Netherlands, for a four-day port visit after completed its participation in Neptune Warrior.

December 1, FFG 40 moored at Penn's Landing Pier in Philadelphia, Pa., for a three-day port visit in conjunction with the 107th Army-Navy Football Game.

On their way home the ship participated in Southeast Anti-Submarine Warfare Integrated Training Initiative (SEASWITI) in the Jacksonville OPAREA.

December 8, USS Halyburton returned to homeport after a five-month deployment in the U.S. 4th and 6th Fleet AoR. The ship steamed more than 20,000 miles and visited nine countries.

December 15, Cmdr. Everett S. Pratt relieved Cmdr. William D. Byrne as CO of FFG 40.

September 3, 2007 USS Hulyburton is currently underway in the Pacific Ocean conducting counter-narcotics trafficking operations.

October 11, The guided-missile frigate departed Salaverry, Peru, after a three-day port visit.

November 30, USS Halyburton returned to Mayport after a five-month deployment to the eastern Pacific Ocean.

June 27, 2008 Cmdr. Michael P. Huck relieved Cmdr. Everett S. Pratt as the 15th CO of Halyburton.

February 21, 2009 USS Halyburton departed homeport for a scheduled underway period with the Eisenhower CSG.

March 12, FFG 40 pulled into Souda Bay, Crete, for a routine port visit.

April 11, The Halyburton joined USS Bainbridge (DDG 96), off the coast of Somalia, to resolve the hostage situation. Capt. Richard Phillips is being held by four gunmen in the covered, fiberglass lifeboat. His ship, the U.S.-flagged Maersk Alabama, was on its way to Mombasa, Kenya, with a cargo of food aid when it was attacked Wednesday.

July 16, The guided-missile frigate moored at West India Terminal in London, England, for a four-day port call.

July 31, USS Halyburton returned to Naval Station Mayport after a five-month deployment in support of maritime security operations.

December 12, Cmdr. John R. Schmidt relieved Cmdr. Michael P. Huck as commanding officer of the USS Halyburton.

March 12, 2010 FFG 40 pulled to Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston to participate in the St. Patrick's Day weekend festivities.

April 26, The Halyburton arrived in Port Everglades, Fla., for the start of the annual Broward Navy Days Fleet Week.

January 3, 2011 USS Halyburton, with an embarked Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 42 Det. 2, with two MQ-8B Fire Scouts and one Seahawk, departed Mayport for a scheduled deployment in support of counter-piracy and maritime security operations. This is first time that a Navy MQ-8B UAV will be used in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet AoR.

January 11, The Halyburton pulled into Funchal, Portugal, for a brief port visit to Madeira Island.

January 28, FFG 40 provided assistance to a Yemeni fishing dhow that had been adrift for 10 days in the Gulf of Aden.

March 19, The Halyburton, part of NATO's counter-piracy Task Force (TF) 508, rescued 13 people from the Greek flagged merchant vessel Irene SL, in the Indian Ocean.

April 7, USS Halyburton recently arrived in Muscat, Oman, for a scheduled port visit.

June 21, An MQ-8B Fire Scout was lost near Zliten, Libya, around 9.20 a.m. local time, while conducting a targeting mission. At the time of the crash, the aircraft was delivering intelligence data from about 5,000-7,000 ft. as expected, and there was no immediate sign of a command and control problem or mechanical malfunction.

August 2, Cmdr. Bertram C. Hodge relieved Cmdr. John R. Schmidt as CO of the Halyburton during a change-of-command ceremony aboard the ship.

August 3, USS Halyburton returned to homeport after a seven-month deployment.

June 26, 2012 The Halyburton is currently participating in a multinational War of 1812 Commemoration Fleet Exercise (FLEETEX), off the East Coast.

August 10, USS Halyburton departed Naval Station Mayport for a scheduled Middle East deployment in support of Operation Ocean Shield.

August 28, The guided-missile frigate arrived in Naval Support Activity Souda Bay at Crete, Greece, for a routine port call.

November 1, FFG 40 recently pulled into Djibouti, Djibouti, for a brief port call before participating in at-sea phase of exercise Cutlass Express 2012-2, organized by U.S. Africa Command and focused on maritime capacity building, one of the tasks of the NATO anti-piracy Task Force (TF) 508, led by the Dutch HNLMS Rotterdam (L800).

November 8, The Halyburton arrived in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, for a goodwill port visit.

January 1, 2013 USS Halyburton recently pulled into Victoria, Seychelles, for a scheduled port visit.

January 3, Cmdr. David E. Fowler relieved Cmdr. Bertram C. Hodge as CO of the Halyburton during a change-of-command ceremony on board the ship in Port Victoria.

January 5-6, USS Halyburton, along with FS Surcouf (F711), disrupted piracy attempt on a merchant vessel, around 260 miles off the Somali Coast. The boarding team from French frigate Surcouf boarded the two suspect vessels and apprehended twelve men in total.

January 19, The Halyburton pulled into Souda Bay, Greece, for a routine port call. Brief stop in Funchal, Portugal, to refuel on Jan. 31.

February 9, USS Halyburton returned to Mayport after a six-month deployment.

January 15, 2014 USS Halyburton, with embarked Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 46 Det. 4, departed homeport for a scheduled deployment in support of Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF-S) counter-narcotics operations in the U.S. 4th Fleet AoR.

January 18, The guided-missile frigate arrived in Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for a brief stop to refuel.

February 6, An MH-60R, callsign Cutlass 466, conducted SAR operations and transported six wounded to Marcos A. Gelabert International Airport in Albrook, after Panamanian helicopter Bell 412 crashed at land around 3.00 a.m., while conducting a drug interdiction operation of a suspicious boat in the area of Mansukum, Guna Yala, along with the USS Halyburton, in support of Operation Martillo. Lt. Vinda Agustin Santos died in the crash.

February 23, USS Halyburton recently anchored off Cartagena, Colombia, for a routine port call.

March 18, The Halyburton recently moored at Cruise Ship Dock in Coxen Hole, Honduras, for a liberty port visit to Roatan Island. Inport Guantanamo Bay from April 8-11.

May 26, USS Halyburton moored at Berth F in Port of Oranjestad, Netherlands Antilles, for a three-day visit to Aruba Island.

June 3, FFG 40 moored at Berth 24, Pier 7 in Port Everglades, Fla., for a brief stop to embark "Tigers."

June 4, USS Halyburton returned to Naval Station Mayport after completing its last major deployment.

September 6, The Halyburton held a decommissioning ceremony at Naval Station Mayport after a nearly 31 years of active servise.

September 8, USS Halyburton was officially decommissioned and stricken from the U.S. Naval Vessel Register. The ship departed Mayport today under tow en route to Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Office in Philadelphia, Pa.