Blue Ridge, U.S. 7th Fleet Complete Busy Underway Schedule
Navy Newsstand
Story Number: NNS040322-09
Release Date: 3/22/2004 5:48:00 PM
From U.S. 7th Fleet Public Affairs
YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- The U.S. 7th Fleet command and control ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) returned to her forward operating base here March 16 after seven weeks at sea.
The ship left Yokosuka Jan. 26 to conduct military-to-military talks with several countries in the region while visiting several ports. Sailors from Blue Ridge and the embarked U.S. 7th Fleet staff, and Marines from 2nd Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Team (FAST), 2nd Platoon, ventured out on a barrage of tours and organized activities, as well as sightseeing excursions and community service projects.
Blue Ridge's first stop was Port Kelang, Malaysia, Feb. 3-5. Sailors and Marines took part in a wide array of activities, ranging from a U.S. 7th Fleet Band performance in Kuala Lumpur, to a community service project at a local children's home.
"My overall impression is this is a great international liberty port," said Capt. J. Stephen Maynard, Blue Ridge commanding officer, as he waited for the U.S. 7th Fleet Band to begin the concert in the Kuala Lumpur City Center at the foot of the Patronas Twin Towers. "Most Sailors I talked to were impressed with the international flavor of Kuala Lumpur, the city's ethnic groups and diverse population."
The next port Blue Ridge visited was Sattahip, Thailand, Feb 10-13. The ship sponsored a community service project together with volunteers from the Rotary Club of Taksin-Pattaya, Thailand, and Bannok Public School.
The half-day service project took the volunteers to Bannok Public School, where they did some light restoration to the facility and then played with the children.
"This is the first time I have ever done a community service project. I got a lot out of it. It felt good to help some kids out that are less fortunate than I was at that age," said Marine Lance Cpl. Walter J. Jackson, an infantryman with 2nd FAST.
Following a brief stop on Okinawa Feb. 20-22, Blue Ridge made a port visit that made headlines across the region, as well as back in the United States, when the ship pulled into Shanghai, China, Feb. 24-27. This was the ship's first visit there since March 2001.
Many activities consumed Sailors' attention during the visit, including a tour of the People's Liberation Army (Navy) guided-missile frigate Lian Yun Gang (FFG 552) Feb. 25, where PLA (Navy) sailors led U.S. 7th Fleet and Blue Ridge Sailors through some of the ship's spaces, including the bridge, chartroom and flight deck.
"Exchanges of this type are excellent in enhancing diplomatic relations between the Chinese and the U.S." said Lt. j.g. Dan Avondoglio, from New Providence, N.J. "We're putting our best foot forward and demonstrating more openness between two very different countries--a communist country and a democratic one."
March 3, Blue Ridge dropped anchor off Luzon, the Philippines, for a brief visit in support of military staff talks. According to Cmdr. Dave Borah, U.S. 7th Fleet Southeast Asia policy officer, talks between military staffs are a normal part of ensuring security in the region.
"It allows us to share our concerns with their military, and it also gives them an opportunity to present their concerns to us in a face-to-face forum," he said.
A 13-member delegation, led by Philippine Navy Capt. Ferdinand Golez, came aboard to discuss many issues of common interest between the United States and the Republic of the Philippines. Golez is assistant chief of navy staff for operations at Headquarters, Philippine Navy.
After another quick stop on Okinawa March 8-10, Blue Ridge started the journey home to Yokosuka, making one last port visit on the way, this time to Nagoya, Japan, March 12-14. The visit was the first by a U.S. Navy ship since a call by USS Gary (FFG 51) in August 2001.
At a press conference held on the pier upon arrival, Maynard expressed his gratefulness at the city's hospitality.
"Many of my Sailors joined the Navy to see the world," he said, "and coming to a wonderful place like this is a dream come true for them."
On the way home from Nagoya, Sailors and Marines had a chance to show off what they did underway to family members and friends, when the ship held a Tiger Cruise. The overnight trip included a birthday cake celebrating the 61st anniversary of U.S. 7th Fleet, a band performance on the mess decks and tours of various ship spaces.
Electronics Technician 2nd Class Roderick Mehringer brought his wife, Yoko. She said the trip changed her thoughts about what goes on when a ship is at sea.
"My first impression of a ship is war, but now that I have been on this ship, I see it as a small town and the Sailors a community. I am very impressed," she said.
The ship returned to Yokosuka March 16, after seven weeks under way. But this whirlwind trip around Southeast Asia will be the last for Blue Ridge for a while. Almost as soon as the ship was tied up to the pier, Sailors began preparations for an extended drydock maintenance period.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
