The USS Pasadena (191) was a cargo ship that served in the United States Navy during World War I and later in the Western Pacific in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. On October 31, 2003, the USS Pasadena returned to the Pearl Harbor Naval Station after an eight-month deployment. It visited ports in Japan, Guam, Saipan, Malaysia, and Connecticut. On November 8, it arrived at its new homeport at Point Loma Naval Base in San Diego, California. The USS Pasadena was part of the Cleveland class light cruisers, which were designed in the late 1930s.
The Second London Naval Treaty limited the movement of light cruisers to 8,000 long tons (8,100 t). After its completion in May 1918, the ship went on to service in World War I with the U. S. Navy.
It became the flagship of Working Group 35.1 on August 23 and four days later it anchored in Sagami Bay, just outside Tokyo. On December 4, 2003, the USS Pasadena returned to Pearl Harbor after a six-month deployment to the western Pacific. It participated in two exercises at various levels and visited five ports. On June 22, 2004, it returned to its homeport after a six-month deployment. On September 2, it arrived at NSB New London in Groton, Connecticut.
On January 19, 2005, it arrived at the White Beach Naval Facility in Okinawa for a short stop. On April 6, it docked at Akasaki Pier at Fleet Activities Sasebo for a three-day port layover. On July 3, it docked at November Pier at Point Loma Naval Base after a six-month deployment. On October 15, it docked at November Pier North at Point Loma Naval Base after a six-month deployment. On December 22, 2005, the USS Pasadena returned to its home port after a six-month deployment to the United States.
It visited ports in Yokosoka (Japan), Sasebo (Japan), Apra Harbour (Guam) and Saipan. On March 20, 2006, it docked at the container port of Sepangar Bay (SBCP), Malaysia for a scheduled visit - the first from the United States. On April 30, it returned to Pearl Harbor after a six-month deployment. On November 23, it departed from Fleet Activities Yokosuka after a six-day port layover. On February 26, 2007, the USS Pasadena docked outboard the USS Louisville (SSN 72) at Fleet Activities Pier 13 in Yokosuka (Japan) for a five-day port layover; it made a brief stop in Sasebo for personnel transfer on March 6th and 9th and 12th.
On May 1st it docked at Pier 1 of Busan Naval Base (Republic of Korea) for a scheduled port visit. On August 29th it docked at berth 46 Outer Harbor in Los Angeles San Pedro California. On October 13th it made a brief stop at Point Loma Naval Base to board Nuclear Propulsion Examination Board (NPEB) personnel for Operational Reactor Safeguards Examination (ORSE). On November 25th it moored at berth 1 pier 3 of Norfolk Naval Station after six days of marching for routine operations; it restarted on December 1st. On September 7th it moved from Pier 14 to Pier 3 pier 3 of Norfolk Naval Station; it restarted on September 7th. After leaving the shipyard, the USS Pasadena participated in training exercises in the area until September when it returned to Central Pacific.
Soon after completing its last voyage, the vessel was decommissioned in late April 1919 and transferred to custody of United States Shipping Board. The USS Pasadena is an important part of American naval history and has served with distinction during both World War I and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Its legacy is one of courage and dedication to duty that will be remembered for generations to come.
