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McCain Sailors Spread Goodwill in Sapporo

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080211-16
Release Date: 2/11/2008 2:22:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Byron C. Linder, Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet Public Affairs

SAPPORO, Japan (NNS) -- Sailors of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) spent Feb. 9 at the Kosho Gakuen Children's Welfare Center in Sapporo, as part of a community relations activity during McCain's port visit to nearby Ishikari.

McCain Sailors played a variety of games ranging from dodgeball to duck-duck-goose with the center's residents. They also participated in a short question-and-answer session with both children and local media.

The Sailors, who volunteered for the event, listed varying reasons for their participation.

"I've been on board about a year and I've been to every [community relations project]," said Seaman Sung Kim, as he passed a basketball to one of the children. "This one is great because I like kids. I love to go to church and play with the kids there."

As Interior Communications Electrician 1st Class (SW) Gaylord Geronimo handed his white hat to a young resident, he said his previous experience with a McCain community relations project encouraged him to participate once again.

"We had one [community relations project] in Vladivastok, Russia, where we painted an orphanage. That was a great experience, and I definitely want to do more," Geronimo said. "This is a great opportunity to play with the kids, and to just have fun."

Operations Specialist Seaman Dewayne Lewis said his motivation came from being an ambassador of the forward-deployed naval forces.

"This is a perfect opportunity to learn more about the culture that we live in. It's important to learn what goes on outside the United States, and see new things," Lewis said. "On McCain, we do a lot of activities that show we do support Japan and we do care. I feel it's very important that we show other people the good things we do."

Following the visit, McCain Sailors gave the children a tour of the ship, which was an eye-opening first visit to a U.S. Navy warship.

"It's very important to me that we show people what life is like being a Sailor," said Lewis.

McCain, part of Destroyer Squadron 15 and permanently forward-deployed to Yokosuka, Japan, is underway on a regularly scheduled deployment.

For more news from Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/local/c7f/.