PEARL HARBOR - The guided-missile frigate USS Crommelin (FFG 37) conducted her final mission off the coast of Oahu Aug. 27, returning for a final time to Pearl Harbor.

The ship is slated for decommissioning in late October 2012.

"I'm sad but everything has to come to an end," said Cmdr. Michael Johns, commanding officer of USS Crommelin. "The Crommelin had a great 30 years of operations, it has a great legacy. I'm really proud of everyone here on Crommelin and our family and friends that supported us over the last year and a half."

After the Aug. 27 daylong underway, Crommelin will begin the weeks-long process of decommissioning.

"Today is our last underway, the final voyage of the USS Crommelin. She spent a lot of hard years at sea," said Chief Hospital Corpsman Hector Ortiz, the ships independent duty corpsman. "The unique challenges of this ship have been interesting, there have been some fun times, some bad times but it was a rewarding tour over all. She's a great ship. We're going to miss this girl."

Crommelin was commissioned June 18, 1983 and originally homeported in Long Beach, Ca. August 1983.

"Its kind of a sad experience. I got to meet a lot of good people on board this ship, I learned a lot," said Electricians Mate 2nd Class Christian Giron. "She will be missed, and the crew members will be missed."

Sailors currently stationed aboard USS Crommelin will be dispersed throughout the fleet to different platforms where they are needed.

"I met a lot of good people on the Crommelin. I learned a lot about my job," said Cryptological Technician Technical Seaman Philip Wang. "This past year has been fun and interesting, I have learned the most out of my Navy career here."

The final underway came close on the heels of a community outreach visit to Kauai, where the crew helped build homes with Habitat for Humanity and opened the ship to visitors.

"Within a short period of time, you found a way to make an impact and leave a lasting impression on our friends and neighbors," said Rear Adm. Frank Ponds, Commander, Navy Region Hawaii and Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific, to the commanding officer and crew of USS Crommelin. "The Ohana spirit that you displayed will go a long way in ensuring that our island neighbors and communities understand that we are here for them and respect the heritage and the culture that is uniquely Hawaii. Job well done."

Upon return to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam from their final underway, USS Crommelin Sailors manned the rails.

"Our manning the rails was our opportunity for the crew to look back on our history, our name sakes," said Johns. "It was representative of USS Crommelin's motto, 'Job Well Done'. It was our way of thanking our former shipmates that have served the Crommelin."

Over her long career, USS Crommelin has participated in more than eight deployments, been involved in such exercises as Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT), Koa Kai and conducted counter narcotics operations, among other missions.

USS Crommelin is the twenty-eighth ship of the Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigates, named for three brothers: Vice Adm. Henry Crommelin, who became a Surface Warfare officer, and Cmdr. Charles and Lt. Cmdr. Richard Crommelin, both of whom died in combat as naval aviators. All three brothers gained fame in World War II, attaining outstanding combat records and multiple decorations.