Three guided-missile destroyers, along with some 1200 crew members, will deploy from Naval Base San Diego Monday.
The ships leaving for the Western Pacific include USS Higgins, USS Stockdale, and USS William P. Lawrence. They'll join USS Shoup which is already underway.
The sailors of Destroyer Squadron 23 will perform maritime and theater security operations including anti-piracy and ballistic missile defense work.
Important to note: The aircraft carrier, USS Nimitz, will stay behind in its homeport of Everett, Wash. while it undergoes maintenance.
