In the Philippine Sea (CNN)One hundred twenty years ago this month, US Navy Commodore George Dewey led a squadron of warships from Hong Kong and steamed towards the Spanish colony of the Philippines. It was the start of the Spanish-American War.
In Manila Bay on May 1, Dewey's ships smashed the entire Spanish fleet while suffering only a handful of US casualties. That crushing naval victory cemented the US as a major player in the Pacific Ocean, leading to nearly a half century of US colonization of the Philippines.
It also turned Dewey into a war hero. He continues to be the only US naval officer to have attained the rank of Admiral of the Navy.
More than a century later, a US guided missile destroyer proudly carrying Dewey's name continues to patrol the waters of the Pacific Ocean, projecting US naval power into this sprawling region.
The Navy gave CNN access to the USS Dewey during exercises last month. A US Navy MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter picked our team up from White Beach Naval Station on the Japanese island of Okinawa for the journey to the 510-foot-long, 9,000-ton warship.
Roughly 20 minutes after lift-off, we landed safely and smoothly on the back deck of the destroyer as it churned through the Philippine Sea.
Once on board, officers led us to Dewey's ceremonial sword, which is stored in a glass case near his portrait in the ship's state room.
Threats from North Korea
Though it sails out of San Diego, California, the Dewey is currently assigned to an expeditionary strike group led by the USS Wasp, now operating out of Japan.
This fighting force, comprised of four ships, roughly 4,000 sailors and Marines, as well as helicopters, Osprey vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, and F-35 stealth fighter jets, is scheduled to participate in annual joint military exercises in South Korea in the coming weeks.
