Grosse Ile Supervisor Celebrates Navy Week Aboard War Ship

Grosse Ile celebrated Navy Week Detroit aboard the USS De Wert on a trip from Cleveland to Detroit this week.

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Loftus, a retired US Air Force pilot, and his family passed Grosse Ile at about 4 p.m. Sept. 4, along with several other guests including six other Grosse Ile residents.

Judy Diehl of Grosse Ile said the trip was a, "once in a lifetime experience."

Twenty-seven civilians were invited to take the approximately 8-hour trip to celebrate Navy Week and the bicentennial of the War of 1812.

The frigate, or war ship, USS De Wert and the Navy coastal patrol craft USS Hurricane arrived at Nicholson Dock, 4105 West Jefferson, in Detroit at about 5 p.m. where they will remain until Sept. 11. All are welcome to visit the ships during their time at the dock.

The USS De Wert is 453 feet long, 45 feet wide and 116 feet tall. The war ship has a draft of 22 feet and can travel at up to 29 knots.

Guests aboard the ship watched as the ship's crew performed drills including fire fighting, boarding of inspected foreign vessels and on-board emergency ship repair. Each guest received a certificate of appreciation and a photograph of the USS De Wert signed by the ship's commanding officer, Commander Joe Thomas, at the conclusion of the trip.