Ponce Decommissioned

The Navy has decommissioned the amphibious transport dock Ponce after more than 46 years of service. During an Oct. 14 ceremony at Norfolk Naval Station, Va., several speakers — including Rear Adm. Jesse A. Wilson Jr., the commander of Naval Surface Force Atlantic — recounted the ship’s service record. Most recently, Ponce was forward deployed in the 5th Fleet area of operations, which includes the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and Indian Ocean. The deployment entailed counter-mine and maritime command missions.