Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Ben Larscheid | First Lt. Sam Barris, left, and Boatswain's Mate 1st Class Terrence Phillips supervise...... read more read more
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YOKOSUKA, Japan – U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) returned to Yokosuka, Japan, Sept. 4 after visiting ports in Japan and Republic of Korea and concluding its participation in Ulchi Freedom Guardian 2012.
As a part of UFG12, Blue Ridge visited Hakata, Japan as well as Busan, Pyeongtaek, and Chinhae, South Korea demonstrating the alliance between ROK and U.S. navies, enhancing combat readiness of the two nations, and demonstrating a combined interoperability.
In each port, sailors provided several tours to distinguished visitors, such as U.S. Army Col. Don Degido, commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Far East District. Korean sailors, including Admiral Yoon Hee Choi, Republic of Korea’s Chief of Naval Operations, also took tours aboard Blue Ridge as a part of a cultural exchange.
In all of the ports, sailors volunteered at local children’s centers to take on small renovation projects and had the chance to interact with the children by playing games and other activities.
“I sign up for community service projects to share my time with those who are less fortunate than myself,” Ship’s Serviceman 2nd Class Quinton Lewis said. “I rearranged a children’s library and had the opportunity to sing a young boy to sleep in my arms. It was a rewarding and heart-warming experience for me.”
Blue Ridge has been forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan, for nearly 33 years. As the flagship for Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet, Blue Ridge is instrumental in forging partnerships in the region while leading the fleet with its advanced shipboard communications systems.
| Date Taken: | 09.04.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 09.04.2012 02:36 |
| Story ID: | 94173 |
| Location: | YOKOSUKA, AICHI, JP |
| Web Views: | 245 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Blue Ridge returns to Yokosuka, by SN JAMES NORMAN, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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