Capt. Chris DeGregory, grandson of Emmons crewmember Thaddeus Tenerowicz, took command of guided-missile cruiser USS Monterey (CG-61) in August, 2015. For the past 7 months, the Monterey served as a member of the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group in the Middle East which provided security and launched fighter planes that carried out missions against ISIS in Iraq and Syria. In October, 2016, missiles launched from the Yemeni coast failed to strike the American ships. They defended themselves with Tomahawk missiles that were launched against three radar sites in Yemen.

The USS Monterey is one of 27 ships of the Ticonderoga Class of guided-missile cruisers. It is equipped with the Aegis Combat System which uses computer and radar technology to track and guide weapons to destroy enemy targets.

Those in attendance at the 2012 Windsor Locks, CT, reunion will remember Chris as guest speaker at the dinner banquet when, reflecting great pride as the grandson of a USS Emmons shipmate, he gave an overview of today's Navy, its high level of trained personnel and their pride in performance, its strength of weaponry and its readiness capability. At his 2015 USS Monterey Change of Command Ceremony, Chris also made a point to pay homage to the legacy of his grandfather and to his affiliation with the USS Emmons Association.

View the local news report of the Monterey's return here.