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33-641: Captain Castellano was listed as executive officer of USS  Vella Gulf on May 5, 2014, during a Holocaust memorial ceremony in Haifa , Israel. He was executive officer of Vella Gulf from December 2013 to April 2015 and was commanding officer from April 2015 to September 2015. Castellano graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1990, earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in History. He has attended

66-568: A U.S. Navy budget plan proposed putting Vella Gulf, along with her Ticonderoga -class sister ships Monterey , Shiloh , and Port Royal , on a path to early decommissioning, as they had not been modernized. In December 2020 the U.S. Navy's Report to Congress on the Annual Long-Range Plan for Construction of Naval Vessels stated that the ship was planned to be placed Out of Commission in Reserve in 2022. On 4 August 2022, Vella Gulf

99-484: A distress call from the Indian freighter Premdivya which reported that she had been pursued by pirates who had fired at the ship. Vella Gulf dispatched a helicopter to the scene which fired warning shots and chased the pirate skiff down. Vella Gulf launched a boarding party in two RHIBs (inflatable boats) and captured nine pirates, who were again transferred to Lewis and Clark for processing. In 2012 while Vella Gulf

132-681: Is a member of the Knights of Columbus Patchogue , N.Y., Council 725. USS Vella Gulf (CG-72) USS Vella Gulf (CG-72) was a Ticonderoga -class guided missile cruiser that served with the United States Navy . She was the second ship named for the Battle of Vella Gulf , a naval engagement in the Solomons campaign of World War II , the first being USS  Vella Gulf  (CVE-111) , an escort carrier commissioned in 1945. The ship's keel

165-547: Is an incorporated community in the town of Brookhaven , on the south shore of Long Island, adjoining the Great South Bay . Patchogue, which is approximately 60 miles (100 km) east of Manhattan, became incorporated in 1893. In 1812, there were 75 inhabitants in Patchogue according to The Brooklyn Eagle , published in 1930. The Patchogue Former Manufactured Gas Plant (MGP) was operated from 1904 to 1926. The company

198-666: Is based in Patchogue. The Patchogue Central Business District or "Downtown" is the 2nd Largest Financial district in Eastern Long Island . Downtown is major transport and exchange hub throughout Eastern New York and Southern Connecticut . There is a museum located within the village called MoCA Long Island . The Median family income is $ 110,576. Patchogue is served by the Patchogue-Medford Public Schools , Patchogue-Medford Library and Carnegie Library . Extreme Western parts of Patchogue are served by

231-705: The Bayport-Blue Point School District . There are primary, middle and high schools, plus continuing education programs for adults. The school district, library, and St. Joseph's University a variety of educational opportunities. In 2010, the Patchogue-Medford Library was awarded the 2010 National Medal for Museum and Library Science for the library's work in bilingual programming. Secondary Education Primary Education Private Adult Education The Patchogue newspaper The Long Island Advance dates back to 1871, when Timothy J. Dyson

264-650: The Chief of Naval Operations Strategic Studies Group XVI and as a Surface Warfare Lieutenant Commander – Commander Assignments Officer, Navy Personnel Command (PERS 41). He was also previously assigned to the Joint Forces Staff College . Castellano was the commanding officer of Bainbridge during the April 12, 2009 rescue of Captain Richard Phillips from pirates off the coast of Somalia. On April 12, 2009, Phillips

297-933: The Naval Postgraduate School , earning a Master Of Science Degree in Systems Technology (Joint Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence), and the United States Naval War College , earning Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies. Castellano's naval sea duty assignments include O.I. Division Officer, Auxiliaries Officer, and Communications Officer of USS  Anzio ; Operations Officer of USS  Cole ; Commanding Officer of USS  Chinook ; as Executive Officer of USS  Donald Cook and as Commanding Officer of USS Bainbridge from June 2008 until April 2010. Ashore, he served as an Associate Fellow to

330-576: The terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 , the ship set sail in support of defense and humanitarian efforts off the coast of New York. A week later, she deployed as part of the USS ; Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Battle Group, to the Mediterranean, and South Asia in support of Operation Enduring Freedom . The Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Battle Group transited the Suez Canal on 13 October and arrived in

363-1065: The Arabian Sea on 15 October, before returning home in April 2002. In March 2003 she was assigned to Carrier Strike Group Eight . On 5 January 2007, Vella Gulf departed on a six-month cruise as part of the Bataan expeditionary strike group (BATESG). She conducted operations in the Persian Gulf , Northern Arabian Sea with the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (in support of Operation Enduring Freedom), Gulf of Oman and Gulf of Aden . She participated in multi-national exercises, including AMAN '07, hosted by Pakistan. Vella Gulf visited Agadir , Morocco and Gaeta , Italy as liberty ports of call, and twice visited Manama , Bahrain. She returned to her home port in Norfolk, Virginia on 3 July 2007. Vella Gulf

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396-579: The Gulf of Aden. Polaris reported that pirates in a single skiff were attempting to board the tanker with ladders, though Polaris ' s crew was able to thwart their efforts. Upon arriving in the area, Vella Gulf intercepted a skiff with seven men aboard. The crew aboard Polaris identified them as the attackers, and they were taken aboard Vella Gulf , transferred to the supply ship USNS  Lewis and Clark for processing, and sent to Kenya for trial. The following day, 12 February, Vella Gulf responded to

429-509: The association has recognized over 300 neighborhoods, streets, and public spaces that make communities stronger and bring people together through good planning. According to the United States Census Bureau , the village has a total area of 2.5 square miles (6.5 km ), of which 2.2 square miles (5.7 km ) is land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km ) – or 10.71% – is water. A natural riverfront and harbor are resources that

462-411: The average family size was 3.20. 22.5% of Patchogue's inhabitants were under the age of 18, 9.2% ranged from 18 and 24, 37.1% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.7 males. The median income for a household in the village was $ 47,027, and

495-731: The building; it now seats 1,166 people. Three churches in Patchogue are listed on the National Register of Historic Places : the Congregational Church on East Main Street, United Methodist Church on South Ocean Avenue between Church Street and Terry Street, and St. Paul's Episcopal Church on Rider Avenue across from Terry Street. In 2019, the local downtown area was recognized by the American Planning Association as one of America's four "Great Neighborhoods". Since 2007,

528-402: The commander ordered the action." Castellano stated, "[We] ultimately believed the pirates were about to kill the captain. That's what was the decision point." U.S. Navy SEAL snipers on Bainbridge ' s fantail opened fire and killed the three pirates remaining in the lifeboat. Bainbridge had the lifeboat under tow approximately 25 m (82 ft) astern at the time. A fourth pirate

561-509: The median income for a family was $ 60,126. Males had a median income of $ 38,561 versus $ 30,599 for females. The per capita income for the village was $ 22,962. 8.1% of families and 10.7% of the population were below the poverty threshold , including 13.5% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over. In 2010, the demographics were 61.8% White, 29.6% Hispanic, 5.3% Black, 0.3% Native American, 1.6% Asian, 0.1% Some Other Race, and 1.4% Two or More Races. The Blue Point Brewing Company

594-409: The population. There were 4,636 households, out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.3% were married couples living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.7% were non-families. 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and

627-575: The relaxation of weapons posture and cessation of hostilities. Vella Gulf began the month of August engaged in multi-ship exercises, where she participated in DIVTACS, LeapFrogs, Tomahawk exercises, submarine exercises, Flight Ops, and Gunnery practice. On 22 September 1999 she returned home, then in November sailed to Yorktown, Virginia for a complete weapons offload. As part of the USS  George Washington Carrier Battle Group (CVBG), and in response to

660-474: The right place at the right time for a reason and that he'll do a great job there." Castellano stated that as the winds picked up, tensions rose among the pirates and "we calmed them" and persuaded the pirates to be towed by Bainbridge . Vice Admiral William E. Gortney reported the rescue began when Castellano determined that Phillips' life was in imminent danger and ordered the action. President Barack Obama had previously given orders to take no action unless it

693-952: The ship commenced training operations while hosting the week-long course Force Air Defense Commander training. Vella Gulf ' s successful completion, in February 1999, of Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) '99 marked the end of a ten-month work-up. The vessel headed out for deployment to the Adriatic Sea on 26 March 1999. After a six-day transit, Vella Gulf took her position in the Adriatic Sea and participated in everything from Tomahawk Strike Ops to Fast-track Logistics Ops as part of Operation Noble Anvil . In May and June, Vella Gulf continued to participate in support of combat operations, fired Tomahawks, assumed warfare commander duties (ADC, ASUWC, ASWC and Launch Area Coordinator), and conducted numerous at-sea refueling and stores replenishment events until

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726-476: The village has utilized since its founding, to become a modern and largely self-contained community. The Mayor of Patchogue is Paul V. Pontieri. The Patchogue Department of Public Safety is a Public security department to insure well being of all Patchogue Residents, similar to a Police Department . The Patchogue Police Department stopped operating in the 1940s. As of the 2000 census , there were 11,919 people, 4,636 households, and 2,749 families residing in

759-436: The village. The population density was 5,301.2 inhabitants per square mile (2,046.8/km ). There were 4,902 housing units at an average density of 2,180.2 per square mile (841.8/km ). The racial makeup of the village was 81.27% White , 3.89% African American , 0.34% Native American , 1.39% Asian , 0.02% Pacific Islander , 9.23% from other races , and 3.85% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 23.84% of

792-556: The western Baltic Sea from 8 to 19 June 1998. During the exercise, the commander, Carrier Group Eight , commanded the exercise from the ship. She then completed an underway replenishment , her LAMPS helicopters moved aboard, she completed a successful command and control exercise (C2X), and had made a port call at Saint John, U.S. Virgin Islands . Upon the completion of C2X, Vella Gulf continued pre-deployment work-ups. In January 1999, after winning her fifth consecutive " Battle "E" ,"

825-704: Was laid down on 22 April 1991 at Pascagoula, Mississippi , by Ingalls Shipbuilding , then a division of Litton Industries . She was launched on 13 June 1992, sponsored by Mary A. McCauley, wife of Vice Admiral William F. McCauley (Ret.), and commissioned on 18 September 1993 at Naval Station Norfolk . Designed as a multi-mission ship, Vella Gulf was capable of sustained combat operations in Anti-Air, Anti-Submarine, Anti-Surface, and Strike warfare environments. She supported of carrier battle groups, amphibious assault groups, ballistic missile defense, as well as interdiction and escort missions. Her diverse combat capability

858-426: Was a small operation, converting coal and/or petroleum products to a flammable gas for use in lighting and industry. The company was sold to Long Island Lighting Company (LILCO). The Patchogue Theatre opened in 1923. It was later renovated into a triplex, after which it was converted to a single movie theater. It closed in the late 1980s. In the mid-1990s the village acquired the theater, and completely refurbished

891-465: Was aboard Bainbridge negotiating a ransom and was taken prisoner. The U.S. Navy evacuated Maersk Alabama ' s captain, Richard Phillips , to Bainbridge and then flew him by helicopter to USS  Boxer for a medical evaluation. Castellano is a Roman Catholic . At his parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Patchogue, he served in turn as an altar boy , usher , lector , and Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion . Castellano

924-609: Was at sea, a petty officer sexually assaulted a female sailor, telling her he planned to kill her and dispose of her body overboard. He was subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment. In December 2015 the ship was assigned to Carrier Strike Group 12 . On 23 April 2017, Vella Gulf left for an eight-month deployment to support maritime security operations in the Persian Gulf ." In July, she joined Carrier Strike Group 11 for three months, conducting air strikes against ISIL targets in Iraq and Syria . She returned on 15 December. In 2020,

957-462: Was decommissioned at Naval Station Norfolk following just under 29 years of service. Disposal arrangements have not been announced. The ship will be berthed at Philadelphia. Patchogue Patchogue ( / ˈ p æ tʃ ɒ ɡ / PATCH -og ) is a village in Suffolk County, New York . The population was 12,408 at the time of the 2020 census. The Incorporated Village of Patchogue

990-447: Was determined that Phillips' life was in immediate danger. A reporter summarized Vice Admiral William Gortney's description of the final events: "Just before the shooting, Capt. Phillips was topside of the lifeboat. One pirate was behind him, pointing an AK-47 rifle at him. The head and shoulders of each of the other two pirates were also visible above deck of the enclosed lifeboat. Determining that Phillips might be shot at any moment,

1023-405: Was identified as one of the U.S. Navy ships surrounding MV  Faina , a Ukrainian -owned, Belizean - registered ship carrying 33 T-72 tanks, RPGs and other munitions, after she was seized by pirates off Somalia on 25 September 2008. Ultimately the ship was not recaptured, and a ransom was paid. On 11 February 2009 Vella Gulf responded to a distress call from the tanker Polaris in

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1056-532: Was orchestrated by the Aegis Combat System , a fully integrated electronic detection, engagement, and fire-control system . Aegis enabled Vella Gulf to detect, evaluate, and engage an enemy with great firepower and accuracy. Vella Gulf successfully completed sea trials during the month of February 1998. In the months of May and June, she completed a two-month cruise, taking part in the 26th annual maritime exercise U.S. Baltic Operations ( BALTOPS ) '98 in

1089-456: Was rescued from his pirate captors. According to Kirk Lippold, former commander of USS  Cole and superior officer to Castellano at that time, in a statement about Castellano in the hours prior to the rescue, "He – Frank is absolutely rock solid. He is a very, very mature and experienced commanding officer. He's had command previously of one of our navy's patrol craft. So with him being on Bainbridge , I have absolute confidence that he's in

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