Decommissioning of USS PHILIPPINE SEA (CG-58)
Decommissioning of USS PHILIPPINE SEA (CG-58) On September 27, 2025, at Pier 2 of Naval Station Newport, Virginia, the Navy formally decommissioned USS PHILIPPINE SEA (CG-58), closing the chapter on more than 36 years of distinguished service. The ceremony, rich with Navy tradition, included banners, music, flags, prayer, and speeches. While reminiscent of the joyful Christenings and Commissionings that begin a ship’s life, a decommissioning carries the weight of reunion, graduation, and farewell— marking the final milestone of a warship’s career. The participation of the Sponsor, or her Maid/Matron of Honor, underscores the Navy’s recognition of the lifetime bond between a Sponsor and her ship. Ceremony Highlights Hundreds gathered as the official party arrived. Michele Lyons, Maid of Honor and Proxy for her late mother, Mrs. Renée Lyons (the ship’s Sponsor), proudly joined the platform. The plankowner community—those who brought the ship into service—was represented by former MCPON John Hagan, who served as Command Master Chief for PHILIPPINE SEA’s precommissioning unit in 1988 before later becoming the Navy’s eighth Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy. The featured speaker was Admiral James Kilby, Vice Chief of Naval Operations, who had begun his own career aboard PHILIPPINE SEA as a junior officer. Captain Steven Liberty, the ship’s final Commanding Officer, was piped aboard and introduced simply as “PHILIPPINE SEA,” a final honor to the ship herself. Plankowner Legacy MCPON Hagan described the involvement of the plankowners and former crew in rallying a reunion in August of 2025. Unfortunately, one plankowner, the Maid of Honor Michele Lyons, was not contacted about that event. One plankowner did realize that the Sponsor’s family was missing from the list of dignitaries. Commissioning crew supply officer Mike Spence, through an arduous and circuitous route, finally reached Michele, the daughter of Ship Sponsor Renee Lyons and Admiral “Ace” Lyons. She eagerly accepted the belated invitation to participate in the decommissioning ceremony and a few days prior to the decommissioning , Michele received a letter from Secretary of the Navy John Phelan thanking her for her years of service as Maid of Honor and recognizing her as Proxy Sponsor for her mother Renee, who passed away in 2018. Michele was accompanied at the event by Ann Zumwalt, President of SOS, and her husband Dr. Michael Coppola. Also attending in support of Michele were Nicole Foster (SOS luncheon Committee Co-Chair with Michele) and her husband RADM Calvin Foster, Deputy Commander Naval Surface Force, Atlantic. A Storied History Michele Lyons spoke of the pride she felt as her parents beamed during the Christening of the Ship. Prior to the champagne bottle break, the chaplain blessed the ship with water from the Philippine Sea provided by Admiral Lyons. Michele recalled the pride she and her mother felt whenever news of the accomplishments of the ship reached them. Like her mother and father, Philippine Sea was part of the family to Michele and it is always hard “to say goodbye to family”. Admiral Kilby reflected on the ship’s operational legacy: from Desert Shield and Desert Storm to her final deployment in December 2024, when she repelled attacks in the Red Sea by Houthi forces. In 36½ years, the “Wardogs” of PHILIPPINE SEA launched missiles in defense of U.S. and allied forces, rescued a Filipino crew from pirates, and responded to the attacks of 9/11 by firing the first Tomahawks into Afghanistan just 26 days later. One sailor recalled pressing the launch button while still grieving his brother-in-law, a New York firefighter lost in the World Trade Center collapse. The cruiser also participated in the burial at sea of astronaut Neil Armstrong in 2012. These moments—etched into history—spoke to the courage and skill of her crews across decades. Captain Liberty gave personal testimony of the ship’s final tour. Assuming command in the midst of renewed Red Sea hostilities, he entered the Combat Information Center to find radar screens filled with hostile contacts. This time it was not an exercise. Over the following days, PHILIPPINE SEA destroyed more than 60 drones and missiles without taking a single casualty. Yet structural fatigue, cracked tanks, and age had taken their toll. Her fighting spirit remained, but like her Ticonderoga-class sisters, she had reached the end of her service life. Farewell to the Ship After the speeches, the moment of parting had arrived. Sideboys manned their posts as the crew, who had manned the rails throughout, was ordered ashore. In solemn formation they marched off the ship, turned, and faced their vessel one final time. In a Navy version of “last man out turn off the lights”, the order was given to stand down the watch. The officer of the watch and his team departed, and slowly, the banners were lowered. Tears welled as memories of decades of service flooded through the crowd. The official party departed. In a poignant closing note, Captain Liberty was announced not as “PHILIPPINE SEA departing” but as “Captain, United States Navy, departing.” The ship was silent. PHILIPPINE SEA was no more.
Author: Martha Hill
website admin & member
