USS Ingraham Steams to Aid of American Samoa

The USS Ingraham, (FFG 61), had just completed military exercises with the French navy in Polynesia, the South Pacific, and was steaming towards a scheduled port call in Pago Pago, American Samoa. Cmdr. Matthew Ovios, commanding officer of the USS Ingraham, spoke with me October 7, 2009, about the events of the next few days.

The ship received a warning about a tsunami. Shortly after, it received orders to make all possible speed to reach the devastated islands of American Samoa. In deep water, the Commander reported that there were no unusual sea changes or wave activity experienced by the Ingraham.

Ingraham arrived off the main island of American Samoa overnight September 29-30. Before entering the outer harbor of Pago Pago, the capital of the territory, it was necessary that the harbor be evaluated for damage and depth. Ovios dispatched a small boat, and the millennial-old technology of taking soundings with a weighted line was used. A bosuns mate determined that the outer harbor channels, navigational aids and the draft at pier side were as charted and it was safe for the Ingraham to enter the outer harbor.

On October 1, Ingraham was tied up dockside. The ship provided the only helicopters for the island, and they were used extensively for the next three days for search and rescue efforts. Their crews include rescue swimmers and they have the ability to use a winch and a basket to effect rescues.

Ingraham carries two duty corpsmen for its medical complement. Cmdr. Ovios reported that they were able to see about 110 patients, in connection with other aid personnel, and relieve some of the burden on the local hospital.

Ingraham was unable to provide requested electrical generation, due to the ship's size. They also lacked Navy divers to inspect undersea cables. Several crew members who were recreational divers did assist at the marina with some underwater salvage work.

Ovios said that the island is a scene of contrasts. Pago Pago and Leone clearly had a 15 foot wall of water strike but there are parts of the island that are untouched. The inner harbor of Pago Pago, most used by recreational craft, is full of debris and submerged cars.

Each day that the ship was docked, about 120 sailors mustered and spread out into the Pago Pago area clearing debris and assisting the residents. Cmdr. Ovios expressed his crew's immense satisfaction with performing this aid mission.

Ingraham had been scheduled to refuel and resupply in Pago Pago. The ship was refueled, and the Air Force flew in 10 pallets of supplies on one of the C-17 missions.

USS Ingraham departed the territory of American Samoa on October 4, with its assistance mission complete. It is now headed across the Western Pacific with a final destination in the Arabian Sea. On its last deployment, in 2008, Ingraham was challenged by Iranian gunboats in the Straits of Hormuz.