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Blue Ridge Celebrates 39th Birthday

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS091117-03
Release Date: 11/17/2009 10:43:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Cale J. Hatch, USS Blue Ridge Public Affairs

USS BLUE RIDGE, At Sea (NNS) -- Sailors and Marines aboard USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) celebrated the ship's 39th birthday Nov. 14 with a ceremonial cake-cutting, a special meal and a rendition of "Happy Birthday" sung by the crew.

"It took a lot of planning, knowing we'd be celebrating at sea," said Chief Culinary Specialist Paul Arboleda, who helped organize the celebration. "And that's a fitting place to celebrate the 39th birthday of the Navy's oldest and longest standing forward deployed ship".

The third Navy vessel to bear the name, Blue Ridge was commissioned Nov. 14, 1970, at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard as the most sophisticated command and control platform in the Navy.

"It's something to be proud of," said Capt. Thom W. Burke, Blue Ridge's commanding officer. "After 39 years, Blue Ridge retains the title of being the finest flagship in the fleet and still the most advanced command and control ship in the Navy."

The high technology communications systems that made the ship so valuable to the Navy at its commission, though upgraded many times since, continue to give Blue Ridge a unique and vital role in the fleet. The maintenance and excellent condition of the ship have also led to an extension on the decommission date to 2019, giving Blue Ridge the chance to see many more birthdays before retiring.

Originally home ported in San Diego, Blue Ridge was forward-deployed to Yokosuka, Japan, to serve as the flagship for Commander, 7th Fleet July 17, 1979. Blue Ridge recently celebrated its 30th anniversary of being forward-deployed to Yokosuka, Japan, giving it the longest forward-deployed presence in the Navy.

Blue Ridge participated in the evacuation of Saigon, Vietnam, in 1975 and Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm from August 1990 through May 1991, serving as the flagship for U.S. Central Command.

Blue Ridge is currently underway on a scheduled fall 2009 deployment that has included port visits to Guam, New Caledonia, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam.

Blue Ridge serves under Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group 7/Task Force 76, the Navy's only forward-deployed amphibious force. Task Force 76 is headquartered at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan, with an operating detachment in Sasebo, Japan.