Lincoln Sailors Say "So Long" to Sasebo Following Port Call
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS060604-02
6/4/2006
By By Journalist 2nd Class Michael Hart, USS Abraham Lincoln Public Affairs
USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN, At Sea (NNS) -- USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) departed Naval Base Sasebo, Japan, May 29 after spending four days in port.
While in Sasebo, Sailors from Lincoln and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2 had the opportunity to learn about Japanese culture through various command-sponsored tours and sporting events.
One Sailor, Airman Christopher Devilbliss, from Supply Department’s S-7 division, attended two such tours.
“We got to see and stand in the spot where the [atomic] bomb was dropped,” said Devilbliss. “The museum we went to was informative as well. It was definitely worth seeing.”
Devilbliss also enjoyed a baseball game while he was in Sasebo.
“The baseball game was a blast,” he added. “They play the game the same way we do, but the atmosphere in Japan is different. The games are more like college games. There’s a band playing, cheerleaders, and during the 7th inning stretch everyone inflates balloons and after singing what would be the equivalent to “Take me out to the old ballgame,” everyone lets the balloons fly through the air.
“Overall, I had a blast in Sasebo,” Devilbliss said. “I would definitely like to come back again.”
Although there were many tours Sailors could have signed up for through Abe’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation division, some decided to spend their free time playing sports against local teams.
“We played against a local Sasebo rugby team,” said Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class (AW) Justin Oman from Abe’s Training Department. “It was a real good time; the people we played against were very nice. Afterwards, we had a barbecue and an awards ceremony.”
May 29 wasn’t just a day that Lincoln pulled out of a foreign port; it was also Memorial Day and was observed on board at 3 p.m. local time with 30 seconds of silence.
“On Memorial Day, a grateful nation undertakes its solemn duty to honor proud patriots who sacrificed their lives for our great nation,” said Abe’s Commanding Officer Capt. C.A. McCawley in an address to the crew. “Your vital work is spreading the realm of freedom and furthering the cause of liberty.
While in port, Lincoln also hosted 650 guests to tour the ship so they could get a better understanding of how an aircraft carrier actually works. Lincoln also hosted a reception with more than 200 foreign guests.
Lincoln, embarked Commander, Carrier Strike Group 9, CVW-2 and Destroyer Squadron 9 are on a scheduled Western Pacific deployment. The strike group has visited the ports of Hong Kong; Laemb Chabang, Thailand; and Singapore, in addition to Sasebo.
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