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Forward Deployed ARG Arrives in Hong Kong

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS051114-03
Release Date: 11/14/2005 10:35:00 AM

From Task Force 76 Public Affairs

HONG KONG (NNS) -- Ships from the forward-deployed Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) arrived in Hong Kong for a scheduled port visit Nov. 13. The visit is an opportunity for approximately 2,000 Sailors to enjoy world-class shopping and cultural sites and to participate in community service projects.

The three-ship ARG, consisting of USS Essex (LHD 2), USS Juneau (LPD 10) and USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43), is currently on its routine fall deployment. The centerpiece of the ARG, Essex, last visited Hong Kong in November 2003.

“A port visit to this beautiful cosmopolitan city has always been a favorite for our Sailors in the 7th Fleet, and this will be a great opportunity for us to give a little bit back to the community that has opened their hearts and hands to us,” said Capt. Mark E. Donahue, commodore, Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 11.

There is a wide range of social, friendship and community service activities available for Sailors to participate in while in Hong Kong.

"Meals in the Home", hosted by the Hong Kong American Women's Association (AWA), is one particular friendship activity, where residents of Hong Kong open their homes to Sailors for a home-cooked meal in a relaxing family setting.

Essex Sailors will be participating in a community service project at the Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Children, where they will assist the staff in landscaping, painting and making minor repairs to the facility.

Another community service project, facilitated by Juneau Sailors, is a landscaping project for the Tao Fong Shan Christian Centre, which sits at the top of a mountain in Shatin, New Territories, about two hours outside of central Hong Kong.

Sailors from Fort McHenry will participate in a community service project at St. Barnabas' Society and Home, an outreach shelter and lodging for the homeless, located in the Western District of Hong Kong.

“We look forward to this great opportunity to help the local community and establishing lasting friendships,” said Chaplain (Lt.) Rean F. Enriquez, Essex chaplain. “Sailors of the Forward Deployed Amphibious Ready Group are always willing to be ambassadors of goodwill wherever they may be.”

The Sasebo-based Amphibious Ready Group left White Beach Naval Facility in Okinawa, Japan, Nov. 9 after unloading Marines and equipment of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). ARG Sailors and 31st MEU Marines had previously participated in Talon Vision and Amphibious Landing Exercise 06 in the Republic of the Philippines Oct. 22-30.

Task Force 76 is the Navy's only forward-deployed amphibious force and is headquartered at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan, with an operating detachment in Sasebo, Japan.