“What an extraordinary day to stand beside to our newest warship under the bright Florida sky, surrounding by those who built her, those who will sail her, and those whose spirit she carries forward,” said Phelan. “It’s an honor to be here in Panama City, and for me to place the USS Pierre, the 19th and final Independence-variant littoral combat ship into commission.”
Ship sponsor Larissa Thune Hargens, daughter of South Dakota Senator John Thune, ordered the crew to “man our ship and bring her to life,” prompting the Sailors to respond, “aye, aye, ma’am” before boarding. Hargens said, “Today marks a moment of pride, purpose and profound connection between the ship, her crew, her namesake city of Pierre and our great nation,” and reflected on her family’s Navy history and the crew’s future duty.
“My connection to the Navy began long before this day with my grandfather. He was a Navy fighter pilot during World War II, flying missions over the Pacific,” said Hargens. “He was brave, determined, and deeply devoted to his country. Just as my grandfather once took to the skies to defend our freedom, you will take to the seas to protect it with the same bravery, discipline, and devotion to duty that have defined the Navy for generations.”
In the week before the commissioning, the crew met community groups, hosted ship tours and built ties with Panama City. Cmdr Justin Guernsey, Pierre’s commanding officer, thanked those who travelled to attend and said, “To commission a ship that represents our nation’s free and independent spirit, the strength of our constitutional republic, and our willingness to fight for what’s right around the world.”
“To my coyotes, these past few months you’ve had the opportunity to become intimately familiar with the performance and capabilities of the Navy’s newest fighting ship,” Guernsey added. “Carry our colors high as we bring this ship to life and forward into what action forward into what action may await.”
Elected officials, naval leaders and local representatives attended the ceremony, including U.S. Senators John Thune and Ashley Moody, U.S. Rep. Neal Dunn and Rear Admiral Jeff Jurgemeyer. The event concluded with the ship’s motto as Guernsey called, “On the move!” and the crew replied, “On the hunt!”
The Independence-variant LCS class is designed for fast, flexible operations in coastal and open waters, supporting missions from maritime security to sea control. Their integration with joint and combined forces aligns with the Pacific Fleet’s mission to deliver naval power able to control the sea and project strength ashore.
