• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

USS Paul F. Foster completes visit to Qingdao, China

7th Fleet News Release

12/1/2002

Journalist 2nd Class Shawn E. Burns, 7th Fleet public affairs

QINGDAO, China -- USS Paul F. Foster (DD 964) departed here Nov. 28 after a four-day port visit, completing the first U.S. Navy ship visit to mainland China since March 2001.

The Spruance class destroyer's visit was one in a series of recent exchanges between China and the United States.

During the visit, Paul F. Foster's commanding officer, Cmdr. Chuck Nygaard, met with military and government officials including Vice Adm. Ding Yi Ping, China's Commander, North Sea Naval Fleet, Senior Capt. Guo Shouqian, China's Deputy Chief of Staff, North Sea Naval Fleet and the Deputy Mayor of Qingdao.

"Paul F. Foster's port visit success was compared to President Nixon's visit to China 30 years ago by leaders in Qingdao," Nygaard said. He also noted that local leaders believed the visit reflected a progressive warming of political and military relations between the two countries.

Prior to the visit Paul F. Foster was participating in exercises with the USS Kitty Hawk Battle Group and the Qingdao port visit was another opportunity for the destroyer's crew to receive valuable training. The port visit was also a great chance to develop mutual respect between the U.S. and Chinese navies, and for the crew to wrap up an extended training period, according to Nygaard.

"Everyone benefits from a port call like this one because it promotes greater understanding between our two navies and it's fun for the Sailors too," Said Lt. Cmdr. Mike Brown, spokesman for Battle Force 7th Fleet.

According to Nygaard, not only was the interaction between the two country's militaries enjoyable, but everyday city-life in Qingdao was also exciting.

"Every crewmember was impressed beyond expectations, " he said. "Qingdao is a great city with great shopping, friendly people and incredible food. What a great port visit and what a great country."

Forward deployed from Everett, Washington, more than one-third of Paul F. Foster's Sailors enjoyed a trip to the Great Wall of China, where a few Sailors chose to reenlist, and various other sightseeing locations, affording the crew an opportunity to interact with local citizens.

One of the Sailors who did reenlist on the Great Wall, Chief Damage Controlman (SW) Edward Warren Calkins IV, said that he wanted to reenlist at a location that only the Navy could offer him.

"This re-enlistment means a lot to me," said Calkins. "Just last year I was on terminal leave and due to retire from the Navy on September 31, 2001, after 20 years of service. I was watching the news on September 11 and could not believe the devastation that I was witnessing. After long talks with my wife, we decided that this was not the time for me to turn my back on the Navy or my country. I contacted my detailer and canceled my retirement for orders to the USS Paul F. Foster. Doing my re-enlistment on the Great Wall of China is an experience that I will never regret or forget. Being a part of things that others only dream about will always have a special place in my heart. To me, this is one of many benefits that we enjoy and cherish for serving in the United States Navy."

Also while in Qingdao, the crew enjoyed recreational activities such as a basketball game, tug-o-war contest and a pingpong tournament with the Chinese Sailors, boosting morale between the two nations' maritime forces.

Paul F. Foster is a highly versatile multi-mission destroyer, capable of operating either independently or with amphibious assault and aircraft carrier task forces with primary missions including, the prosecution of both surface and subsurface threats. As a strike platform, the destroyer is equipped with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles to attack land targets. The ship's other offensive assets include Harpoon anti-ship missiles, five-inch guns, and ship or helicopter launched torpedoes.

Paul F. Foster is 563 feet long, travels at speeds over 30 knots and has a displacement of 9,200 tons. The ship has a complement of nearly 320 crewmembers and has been in service for 27 years. The ship is completing a six-month deployment and is scheduled for decommissioning in March 2003.