SAN DIEGO - The guided-missile destroyer USS Shoup (DDG 86) is scheduled to return to its homeport of Naval Station Everett Nov. 18 following an extended deployment to the U.S. 5th, 6th and 7th Fleet areas of responsibility (AOR).

Deployed since Jan. 9, Shoup was assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 23 and conducted operations with the USS Nimitz (CVN 68) Carrier Strike Group. The ship took part in a number of exercises, theater security cooperation, and maritime presence operations with partner nations.

A detachment of the "Wolf Pack" of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 75, embarked aboard Shoup returned home to San Diego Nov. 14.

Upon return, Shoup and HSM 75 will conduct operations and training within Third Fleet's 50-million square mile AOR.

Shoup is commanded by Cmdr. Jill Cesari and was commissioned June 22, 2002 in Seattle, Wash. The ship was named after Gen. David Monroe Shoup, a World War II Medal of Honor recipient and the twenty second commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps.

HSM 75 is commanded by Cmdr. Thomas F. Foster, who relieved Cmdr. Peter M. Collins during an airborne change of command ceremony in the skies above the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), Aug. 13, in the Arabian Gulf.

U.S. Third Fleet leads naval forces in the Eastern Pacific from the West Coast of North America to the international date line and provides the realistic, relevant training necessary for an effective global Navy.