Blue Ridge, 7th Fleet Visit Sydney
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS050613-04
Release Date: 6/13/2005 7:03:00 AM
By Crytologic Technician (Technical) 2nd Class (SW) Christopher T. Smith, USS Blue Ridge Public Affairs
ABOARD USS BLUE RIDGE, At Sea (NNS) -- USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) and the embarked U.S. 7th Fleet staff departed Sydney, Australia, June 10 after completing a successful seven-day visit that focused on preparations for the upcoming joint U.S. and Australian military exercise Talisman Saber.
Blue Ridge arrived in Sydney June 3 for a week of military-to-military staff talks. U.S. 7th Fleet staff participated in the series of bilateral talks with their Australian counterparts, and embarked nearly 400 personnel to support the exercise.
Talisman Saber is a joint-sponsored U.S. Pacific Command and Australian Defense Force Joint Operations Command exercise. U.S. Pacific Command units and Australian forces will conduct land, sea and air training throughout the training area.
But in between exercise preparations and embarking personnel, Sailors found time to appreciate the city in the form of museums, symphonies and orchestras.
Sydney, known for its busy ports and tranquil harbor, is home to the world-famous Sydney Opera House. Before enjoying a ballet performance of Grand at this famed venue, Operations Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Jonathan Elosegui, from Melbourne, Fla., enjoyed a 45-minute tour that explained the intricate architecture of the Opera House.
“It was amazing,” he said. “There was such detail to the design, and it all came together perfectly. You could tell they really took their time in building it.”
Not only was the architectural structure of the building stunning, the Sailors found the dance performance enriching.
“The dancing was beautiful,” said Elosegui. “It was a very uplifting and worthwhile experience.”
Sailors also had the chance to appreciate the entire city while taking part in ship-sponsored Morale, Welfare and Recreation tours.
Yeoman 2nd Class Marvin Harris, a native of Jacksonville, Fla., was pleasantly surprised with what Sydney had to offer.
“The city was really nice,” said Harris. “There are a variety of activities, and the beach was especially pretty.”
Harris was particularly impressed by the Sydney Aquarium.
“The great white sharks were huge,” said Harris. “It was the first time I ever saw anything like that.”
Some Sailors took a break from shopping and touring Sydney to act as goodwill ambassadors and donated their time to several community outreach projects.
A team of Blue Ridge crew members opened up the ship and spent a day with a group of terminally ill children from Starlight Children’s Foundation. The foundation grants the wishes of seriously and terminally ill children.
The children and their families were treated to a guided tour of the 7th Fleet command ship.
Yeoman 3rd Class Loribelle Valdez from San Jose, Calif., was humbled to help fulfill the children’s wish of seeing a U.S. Navy ship.
“It was an honor to show off Blue Ridge to the children, and it was also a blessing to make their acquaintance,” said Valdez.
Other crew members took a more “hands on” approach to helping the local area, by participating in a Habitat for Humanity project. Sailors cleared out the front and back yards of a local home. Sailors raked leaves, pulled weeds and cut down almost waist-high grass in preparation for two new homes that will be built on the site for local families.
Cryptologic Technician (Technical) 1st Class Jasen Williams, from Birmingham, Ala., felt privileged to help a needy family.
“The work was not hard, because the group worked together to get the job done in a timely manner,” said Williams. “We were the first ones to begin the project of building a house for a disadvantaged family.”
In the third project, volunteers spent the day helping maintain a special garden at the Roselle Community Nursery that commemorates the lives of those lost in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
Personnelman 2nd Class Matthew Johnson, a native of Thousand Oaks, Calif., enjoyed the project because it was his first experience working in a garden.
“I liked this work, because I’ve never planted anything before,” said Johnson. “It was a great thing to do. I wish more people could participate in these projects, because everyone is satisfied with the results when they’re finished.”
Blue Ridge and 7th Fleet Sailors found the city to be an exciting place with endless possibilities.
“It was great. There was something different to do every night,” explained Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Nick Kivlehan, of Olympia, Wash. “It was my kind of city.”
Commanded by Capt. J. Stephen Maynard, of Kettering, Ohio, Blue Ridge supports a variety of missions by providing a robust communications suite to allow Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet, Vice Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert, and his embarked staff, to provide guidance and direction to U.S. naval forces in the region.
Blue Ridge is permanently forward-deployed to the Western Pacific and operates out of Yokosuka, Japan.
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