USS Gary (FFG 51) is named by the Commander Donald A. Gary, who saved the lives of 300 men onboard USS Franklin (CV 13) in fighting off the coast of Kobe, Japan, during Operation Iceberg. Cmdr. Gary later received the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions on that memorable day, in the battle of Okinawa, March 19, 1945.

November 15, 2002 More than 5,500 Sailors are currently training in waters and air space around Japan, including USS Gary, as the U.S. Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) conduct a large bilateral maritime exercise Nov. 11-22. The exercise, called ANNUALEX 14G, is designed to improve both naval forces capabilities for coordinated and bilateral operations in the defense of Japan. The guided-missile frigate recently participated, as part of USS Kitty Hawk Battle Group, in Exercise Keen Sword 2003 off the coast of Japan.

January 29, 2003 USS Gary departed Yokosuka for a six-month deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

March 13, FFG 51 rescued all eight fishermen from the motor vessel Kaptain Muhamadat about 5:30 p.m. local time, some 20 miles south of the Iranian coast.

June 19, The Gary pulled to Chocin, India, for a three-day port visit. Gary’s commanding officer, Cmdr. Tito P. Dua, was born in India before emigrating with his parents to the United States at the age of two.

July 26, USS Gary returned to homeport after a surge deployment in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

August 19, 2004 USS Gary pulled to Apra Harbor, Guam, for a routine port call during the Spring underway period. During this underway period, the Kitty Hawk CSG participated in maritime readiness demonstration Summer Pulse ’04, a test of the Navy’s new Fleet Response Plan, and Joint Air and Sea Exercise (JASEX) ‘04 with the USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) CSG.

November ?, USS Gary, commanded by Cmdr. Rob Marin, returned to Yokosuka, Japan. In October the ship visited Goa, India, as part of Exercise Malabae 2004

February 8, 2005 FFG 51 departed homeport for a scheduled underway period.

February 22, The guided-missile frigate pulled to Hong Kong for a scheduled port visit.

March 18, USS Gary departed Chinhae, Republic of Korea, after a four-day port visit. Gary’s port visit to Chinhae coincides with the Reception, Staging, Onward Movement and Integration/Foal Eagle exercise, which is being conducted throughout the peninsula. The defansive Naval Foal Eagle exercise will begin March 19, with eight U.S. Navy ships from the USS Kitty Hawk Carrier Strike group.

March 29, The Gary arrived to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, for a four-day port call.

April 13, FFG 51 pulled to U.S. Naval Ship Repair Facility (SRF) Yokosuka, Japan, Dry Dock Four, for a Selected Restricted Availability (SRA).

July 11, 2006 USS Gary is currently dry docked, in Yokosuka Naval Shipyard, for a maintenance availability.

October 15, USS Gary departed Yokosuka for a routine underway period with the USS Kitty Hawk CSG.

October 24, The guided-missile frigate departed Hong Kong harbor after a brief port visit. The Gary, along with aircraft from the Air Force and Coast Guard, is participating in the Hong Kong Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX) 2006.

January 25, 2007 FFG 51 is currently on deployment in the western Pacific and is scheduled for a port visit in Cambodia, the first by a U. S. Navy ship in 30 years.

February 5, The forward deployed guided-missile frigate departed Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, after a four-day port call.

February 9, USS Gary, commanded by Cmdr. Joseph de Leon, arrived in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, for a historic port visit. The crew will participate in medical assistance and community relation projects as well as professional exchanges with their Cambodian counterpart.

March 20, FFG 51 departed Yokosuka for a scheduled underway period.

September 10, USS Gary arrived in its new homeport of San Diego after a hull swap with USS McCampbell (DDG 85). The ship departed Yokosuka Aug. 13.

March 25, 2008 USS Gary is currently off the coast of southern California, as part of oposition forces to USS Ronald Reagan CSG COMPTUEX.

June 5, The guided-missile frigate pulled to Portland to celebrate the 101st annual Portland Rose Festival.

September 9, Cmdr. Daniel J. Senesky relieved Cmdr. Joker L. Jankins as CO of USS Gary, during a change of command ceremony at Naval Base San Diego.

November 14, FFG 51 hosted 29 civilian leaders from both the private and public sector from across the country as part of the Leaders to Sea (LTS) program Nov. 3-6.

April 8, 2009 USS Gary departed San Diego for a deployment in support of counter-illicit trafficking in the eastern Pacific Ocean.