America's bloodiest day
Navy has eight warships in eastern Pacific

By William Cole
Advertiser Military Writer

The U.S. Pacific Fleet has eight warships — including a destroyer based in Pearl Harbor — in the eastern Pacific in response to the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, the Navy said.

"Pacific Fleet ships are under way in the Pacific Ocean and ready to respond to any tasks in support of national defense at sea to contribute to the air and sea defense of the U.S. West Coast and Hawai'i," the Navy said. "Together with ships from the U.S. Atlantic Fleet, the Navy immediately responded to acts of domestic terrorism in the U.S. Mainland."

The guided missile destroyer USS Russell and salvage ship USS Salvor left Pearl Harbor after the East Coast attacks, the Navy said.

The salvage ship is now back in port.

Navy Cmdr. Roxie Merritt, a spokeswoman for the Pacific Fleet, said the destroyer was on watch in the "local area."

Military bases across the state were on high-level security alert for a second day in a row, checking identification and conducting random car searches at restricted-access gates.

"All of our measures are still the same," said Capt. Stacy Bathrick, a spokeswoman for the 25th Infantry Division (Light), and U.S. Army Hawai'i.

All the services were more tight-lipped yesterday about the security measures being taken. The state said that yesterday afternoon the military slightly reduced its formal alert status to help ease traffic jams at base entrances.

Three Coast Guard cutters with 76mm bow cannons continued to patrol Hawai'i ports. Hawai'i National Guard troops assisted at Honolulu International Airport with additional security requirements.