The ongoing evolution of the Navy was evident at Pearl Harbor on Friday with the first of two decommissionings of frigates — a class of warship being replaced by new littoral combat ships.

For about 20 members of the Crommelin family, who came from California, Oregon, South Caro­lina and even Australia, the frigate’s retirement amounts to a loss of one of their own: the USS Crommelin, named for brothers who fought in the Pacific in World War II.

John G. Crommelin V, 32, who lives in Hilo, said it was an honor to be a part of the decommissioning ceremony.

His grandfather John G. Crommelin III was one of five brothers from Ala­bama dubbed the "Dixie Demons" and a "one-family navy" for their participation in every major campaign in the Pacific during World War II.

Cold War-era frigates of the Oliver Hazard Perry class are being replaced by smaller and speedier littoral combat ships which can operate closer to shore and are designed to defeat "anti-access" threats such as mines, quiet diesel submarines and fast surface craft. The Navy has not based any of the ships at Pearl Harbor.

The Crommelin is destined for sale to a foreign country — possibly Turkey — after 29 years of service. The Navy’s only other frigate at Pearl Harbor, the Reuben James, is scheduled to be decommissioned Aug. 30. It too will be sold to a foreign navy.

Lt. j.g. Tyler Sharp, 25, first lieutenant of the 445-foot Crommelin, whose rails were decked out with red, white and blue bunting, said he never imaged having a front-row seat to such a change in the Navy fleet.

"The ship just decommissioned, so it’s really tough to accept it," he said. "As all these new ships come in, you can really see (the changing of the guard) when these old guys of the Navy, the frigates, leave and the new ones come in."

About 250 people attended the ceremony at Pier M-2. Keepsakes from the ship’s service, including its commissioning plaque, recognition for a 2010 Saipan visit and "Battle E" awards for effectiveness back to 1987, were on display.

"This is a special ship," said retired Capt. James Orvis, the first commander of the Crommelin. "Its contributions are not diminished by the fact that like many of us, she’s grown older. Those of us who have served in her can be proud to have walked the decks and contributed to her reputation."

Commissioned in 1983, the USS Crommelin was named for three of the five Crommelin brothers — Henry, Charles and Richard, each a Naval Academy graduate — who performed heroically during World War II.

Orvis recalled that during the Crommelin’s early service, the threat was the Soviet Union.

"We didn’t know that the Soviet Union was falling apart," he said. "It was still a formidable foe. The Soviet navy was deploying very capable ships with surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles."

Soviet Backfire, Badger and Bear bombers "were armed with the high-speed supersonic missiles and were flying at our (aircraft) carriers, and we were returning the favor because we were flying aircraft at their borders," Orvis said.

Although frigates still escort aircraft carriers, they have taken on other roles, including drug interdiction with the Coast Guard. In 2004 the Crommelin intercepted and recovered 20.5 metric tons of cocaine worth more than $1.25 billion, the Navy said.

Petty Officer 1st Class Guymanu Mims, 38, who worked on the gas turbine system, said frigate life is definitely different from being on a bigger destroyer or cruiser.

"The manning is different," he said. "I don’t have that many people in a division compared to a destroyer or a (cruiser)."

"On a frigate it will test your will. You are really undermanned compared to the rest of the ships," said Petty Officer 1st Class Keo­ho­kea Cor­deira, 32, a 1998 Wai­anae High School graduate.

Cordeira said he’s glad he got to experience life on a frigate. About 160 crew members were present Friday.

"It’s just an honor to be a part of the last crew on board the Crommelin and pay homage to the Crommelin brothers," he said.

The ship went on 17 major deployments. Before a possible sale to another country, the Crommelin will be kept in the inactive-ship maintenance facility in Pearl Harbor’s East Loch.

Rear Adm. Frank Ponds, commander of Navy Region Hawaii, said ship modernization in the Navy is a necessity.

"We train our people to be more capable. Ships are the same," he said.