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decommissioning & hand over to
Pakistan Navy - Mayport, Florida - August 31, 2010
Mayport, Florida - April 2010
Mayport, Florida - April 2010
Pacific Ocean - March 2010
MQ-8B Fire Scout UAV operations - Atlantic
Ocean - May 2009
Mayport, Florida - December 2008
Mayport, Florida - October 2008
Rendsburg, Germany - February 2005
Atlantic Ocean - June 2004
Atlantic Ocean - June 2004
undated
Pacific Ocean - July 2003
Caldera, Chile - June 2003
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Francis X. McInerney was born on 28 March 1899
in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He was commissioned from the U.S. Naval Academy in June
1921. As a junior officer, his tours of duty included the ships, USS NEW
MEXICO, USS BURNS, USS WILLIAMSON, and USS DOBBIN.
In 1935, he received the degree of Bachelor of Laws from George Washington
University Law School. Subsequent tours included USS CONCORD, and instructor
at the Post-Graduate School, Annapolis, Maryland.
VADM McInerney assumed command of USS SMITH in May 1940, and was commanding
that destroyer when the United States entered World War II. Later he was
assigned to the ANZAC Squadron in the South Pacific and, as senior officer in
destroyers, participated in the early strikes in the Solomons and the Battle
of the Coral Sea.
In March 1943, he assumed command of Destroyer Squadron 21. He led his ships
in the Solomons in the First and Second Battles of Kula Gulf. He was awarded
the Bronze Star with Combat "V," the Navy Cross, Presidential Unit
Citation, the Silver Star, and the Legion of Merit with Combat "V".
In August 1943, VADM McInerney was assigned as Senior Representative of
Commander Destroyers in the South Pacific, and in March 1944, was named Chief
of Staff for Commander Operational Training Command, Pacific Fleet. He
assumed command of the battleship USS WASHINGTON in June 1945. In October
1946, VADM McInerney reported as Commanding Officer of the Naval Receiving
Station, Treasure Island, California. He assumed command of Cruiser Division
Three in March 1949. In January 1950, he became Commander Amphibious Training
Command, Pacific Fleet. Subsequently, he commanded Amphibious Group Three,
Pacific Fleet, and Service Squadron Three.
VADM McInerney's operations in the Korean War as Commander Joint Amphibious
Task Forces Seven, Seventy-Six and Ninety-Two earned him the National Defense
Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, and the United Nations Service Medal.
In May 1953, he became Senior Member, Board of Naval Inspection and Survey,
West Coast Section. In October 1954, he was assigned as President of the
Permanent General Court Martial, Eleventh Naval District. He retired 30 June
1955.
VADM Francis X. McInerney died on 24 June 1956 in San Diego, California.
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Since commissioning in 1979, MCINERNEY has performed
well in every facet of its capabilities. MCINERNEY was selected as the Navy's
test platform for the LAMPS MK III Helicopter in the first two years of her
service, and her pioneering efforts in Anti-Submarine Warfare earned her a
Meritorious Unit Citation.
MCINERNEY departed for a Mediterranean/Indian Ocean deployment in November of
1982. This first major deployment included support of the Multi-National
Force in Beirut, and a crossing of the equator en route to Diego Garcia,
earning her a Navy Expeditionary Medal. MCINERNEY returned from deployment in
May of 1983, and completed a Selected Restricted Availability period from
August 1983 to January 1984.
The first few months of 1984 were spent conducting Refresher Training and Law
Enforcement Operations. MCINERNEY received a Coast Guard Operational
Meritorious Unit Citation for her efforts in law enforcement.
Workups for a second deployment were completed, and in October of 1984,
MCINERNEY was underway for deployment to the Middle East in the midst of the
Iran/Iraq Tanker War. MCINERNEY returned from the Middle East in March of
1985, and continued operations in support of law enforcement and naval
operations.
In May of 1986, MCINERNEY transited to Boston to commence an extended
Selected Restricted Availability period during which the AN/SQQ-89(V)2
Anti-Submarine Warfare Suite, fin stabilizers, the Recovery, Assist, Securing
and Traversing (RAST) system and single audio system were installed.
MCINERNEY completed the availability period in June of 1987, and once again
commenced workups and Refresher Training.
In August of 1988, MCINERNEY was underway for her third deployment - this one
to the Mediterranean. This deployment was highlighted by MCINERNEY being
awarded the COMSIXTHFLT "Hook Em'" Award for excellence in
Anti-Submarine Warfare and a Meritorious Unit Citation. MCINERNEY returned
from the Mediterranean in February 1989, and departed for the Northern
Atlantic in the spring of 1989. Anti-Submarine Warfare operations led the
MCINERNEY above the Arctic Circle, and MCINERNEY returned to Mayport in May
of 1989.
Another Selected Restricted Availability, more Refresher Training, and
workups followed, with a deployment to the Middle East in January 1991.
After brief ASW operation in the Mediterranean Sea, for which MCINERNEY was
awarded her second "Hook Em'" Award, MCINERNEY entered the Persian
Gulf in support of coalition forces against Iraq. MCINERNEY performed in
every warfare area during the conflict, including convoy escort, mine,
anti-air and anti-surface operations. MCINERNEY earned the Navy Unit
Commendation, the National Defense Service Medal, the Southwest Asia Service
Medal with Bronze Star, and the Kuwait Liberation Medal for her wartime
service.
The ship returned from the Middle East in July of 1991, after escorting more
than 50 merchant vessels through the mine-swept waters to Kuwait ports. Her
continued, proven prowess earned her the Battle "E" for efficiency,
and the COMNAVSURFLANT ASW Award, designating her as the top AN/SQQ-89
configured ASW platform on the East Coast. MCINERNEY conducted another
Selected Restricted Availability period from September to December 1991.
MCINERNEY again deployed to the Mediterranean and Red Seas on October 7,
1992, where she conducted Maritime Interception Operations with multinational
forces. The frigate returned home to Mayport on April 7, 1993.
From September to October 1993, MCINERNEY conducted Counter-Drug Operations
in the Caribbean Sea and in January 1994, she returned to the Caribbean Sea
to enforce UN sanctions in support of Operation Support Democracy. In April
and May 1994, during preparations for her summer deployment to Central and
South America, MCINERNEY flexed her Combat Systems muscles in Exercise Agile
Provider, a multi-force exercise off the coast of North Carolina before
departing on UNITAS 35-94 in July, during which she circumnavigated the South
American Continent and transited the Panama Canal.
In February 1995, MCINERNEY participated in Exercise Strong Resolve, a NATO exercise
in which she again operated above the Arctic Circle.
USS MCINERNEY, with the assistance of the Colombian Navy and U.S. Coast
Guard, seized approximately 2,200 pounds of cocaine, one 40-foot boat and
arrested four people after chasing down a vessel Nov. 10, 1997. MCINERNEY,
with a Coast Guard law enforcement detachment on board, sighted the 40-foot
boat heading north about 105 miles north of Colombia.
In 1999, MCINERNEY took part in UNITAS off the coast of South America.
McINERNEY's humanitarian efforts include assisting the tug TAURUS in the
Jacksonville Operating Area, transferring a wounded merchant seaman during
the Tanker War, rescuing Sailors from the sinking motor vessel JENNEASTAR in
the Mediterranean, and escorting merchant shipping carrying needed supplies
to the ports of Kuwait through mine-swept channels in the aftermath of
Operation DESERT STORM.
In 2005, MCINERNEY deployed to Europe to operate with SNMG-1. While on
deployment MCINERNEY and its crew visited Spain, Italy, Denmark, Sweden,
Germany, Norway, Poland, the Netherlands, and Portugal. After returning from
deployment and in the wake of hurricane Katrina, MCINERNEY set sail again and
returned to the North Atlantic to participate in JMC operation Neptune
Warrior.
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