Officer found dead on Pearl-based destroyer

By William Cole
Advertiser Military Writer

The executive officer of the Pearl Harbor-based destroyer USS Paul Hamilton was found dead in his stateroom aboard ship yesterday from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, the Navy said.

Lt. Cmdr. Thomas L. Robinson, 38, was second in command on the guided missile destroyer. The death is being investigated by Naval Criminal Investigative Service agents, the Navy said.

The destroyer, part of the Abraham Lincoln battle group, was making a port call in Bahrain, officials said. The Paul Hamilton left Pearl Harbor on Aug. 2 on a regularly-scheduled six-month deployment in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Southern Watch.

Lt. Cmdr. Jane Campbell, a spokeswoman for Navy Region Hawai'i, said Robinson was married and the father of three children. His hometown was not available.

Robinson, who had been in the Navy about 15 1/2 years, reported aboard the Paul Hamilton in May of 2001 as executive officer. Prior to that he was on the staff of the Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific at Pearl Harbor, Campbell said. Robinson's family moved to the Mainland around the start of the school year with the expectation of a new assignment sometime during the school year, Campbell said.

Campbell said there will be a meeting, possibly today, conducted by chaplains and the Fleet and Family Support Center for Navy personnel seeking counseling or support.

Reach William Cole at wcole@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-5459.