MILLINGTON, Tenn. - Petty Officer 2nd Class Andrew Caudill, a native of Mason, Ohio, will return to San Diego from a seven-month deployment serving aboard USS Stockdale, a U.S. Navy warship that recently conducted operations in the Middle East.
Caudill, a 2017 graduate of William Mason High School, joined the Navy five years ago.
“I joined the Navy because I wanted a career where I could see the results of my work,” Caudill said.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Mason.
“Growing up in Mason, Ohio ingrained me with a good sense of the value of being able to work with others,” Caudill said. “That value has been vital to our success as a fighting force and is one of the most enjoyable parts of my career.”
While on its seven-month deployment, USS Stockdale conducted combat operations against the Iranian-backed Houthis in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb, and Gulf of Aden, maintaining free and open sea lanes and regional stability. Stockdale also built continuing relationships with the militaries of Egypt and the Republic of Maldives, important partners of the United States.
“Having received training for this specific combat deployment for years and actually using the training has been the most fulfilling and prideful accomplishment of my life,” Caudill said. “It was truly a privilege to serve alongside my crew mates.”
Homeported in San Diego, Stockdale is a guided-missile destroyer and the third U.S. Navy ship named in honor of Vice Adm. James Bond Stockdale, an aviator who was awarded the Medal of Honor based on his service in the Vietnam War, during which time he was a prisoner of war for over seven years.
A Navy destroyer is a multi-mission ship that can operate independently or as part of a larger group of ships at sea. The ship is equipped with tomahawk missiles, torpedoes, guns and a phalanx close-in weapons system.
The U.S. Navy is celebrating its 250th birthday this year.
According to Navy officials, “America is a maritime nation and for 250 years, America’s Warfighting Navy has sailed the globe in defense of freedom.”
With 90% of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.
Caudill can take pride in serving America through military service.
“I know that my work in the Navy will have been the most meaningful work of my entire life,” Caudill said. “Not only did I get the privilege to defend U.S forces, but also promote freedom of navigation and protect the lives of civilian merchants.”