USS Gunston Hall (LSD-44)

USS Gunston Hall (LSD-44) is a Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship of the United States Navy. She was the second Navy ship to be named for Gunston Hall, the Mason Neck, Virginia estate of George Mason, one of Virginia's outstanding Revolutionary figures, and "Father of the Bill of Rights".

Gunston Hall was laid down on 26 May 1986, by the Avondale Shipyards, New Orleans, La.; launched on 27 June 1987; and commissioned on 22 April 1989.

Gunston Hall is homeported at NAB Little Creek, Virginia, and assigned to Amphibious Group 2 of the Atlantic Fleet.

It was announced on 9 October 2006 in the Halifax Herald in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada that the Canadian Navy will borrow the 186-meter amphibious assault ship for a brief period, and will pull it into CFB Halifax in early November, 2006. About 150 Canadian soldiers from CFB Valcartier, along with their light armored vehicles and G-wagons, will board the vessel and start training to storm beaches in landing craft, much like troops did in the Second World War. The U.S. military is providing mentoring and support during the operation.

2008
While on deployment the Gunston engaged and gave chase to the Golden Nori which had been hijacked by Somalian pirates. After days of chasing the Golden Nori was cornered in a Somali bay where the USS Whitbey Island assisted with the extraction of the hostages.

2009 Refit
Gunston Hall completed sea trials 21 May 2009 after undergoing a midlife modernization availability. The work began in July 2008 at Metro Machine Corp. in Norfolk, Va., and included major upgrades to the ship's control system, local area network and machinery control system, propulsion systems, HVAC, as well as replacement of the ship's boilers and evaporators with an all-electric services system. The refit extended her expected service life which could be up until 2038.

2010 Haitian relief
LSD 44 was deployed in January as part of rescue efforts after the 2010 Haiti Earthquake. On 18 January 2010, she anchored off Killick navy base and started relief operations.

Senior leader reliefs
In August 2010 the ship's skipper, Commander Fred R. Wilhelm, was relieved of his command by Rear Admiral Dave Thomas, commander of Naval Surface Force Atlantic, and reassigned to administrative shore duties after allegations surfaced of sexual harassment and simple assault among the Gunston Hall's crew. Wilhelm was replaced by Captain Mark H. Scovill. The ship's executive officer Commander Kevin Rafferty, and former Command Master Chief Wayne Owings were given non-judicial action over the same incident.

The senior enlisted member of the crew, Command Master Chief Kelly Smith, was removed from his position on 8 September 2012 and reassigned for misconduct.