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PLA Navy officers touring the USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) in Shanghai observe a demonstration of an Emergency Water Activated Repair Patch by U.S. Navy CDC(SW) George Marquez.
Photo by PH(AA) Tucker M. Yates, USN |
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Thailand
While in Sattahip, Thailand, for a four-day port visit, USS Blue Ridge volunteers sponsored a community service project with volunteers from the Rotary Club of Taksin-Pattaya and Bannok Public School. The volunteers cleaned the school building and a garden, and then played soccer with the children. The U.S. volunteers also visited the nearby resort town of Pattaya and played basketball and softball with Thai teams in friendly competition.
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Vice Adm. Zhao Guojun, Commander, East Sea Fleet of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, meets Vice Adm. Robert F. Willard, Commander, U.S. Seventh Fleet, on the quarterdeck aboard USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19). Vice Adm. Guojun toured the ship in Shanghai, China.
Photo by PH1 Winston C. Pitman, USN |
China
In Shanghai, China, USS Blue Ridge sailors and Marines toured the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy’s guided missile frigate Lian Yun Gang (FFG 552). PLA sailors led the U.S. sailors and Marines through some of the ship’s spaces, including the bridge, chartroom, and flight deck. The Lian Yun Gang served as escort during USS Blue Ridge’s trip up the Huangpu River to a pier overlooking Shanghai’s skyline. U.S. sailors were impressed by the Lian Yun Gang. “The bridge of the ship looked technologically advanced and had very sophisticated equipment,” noted U.S. Navy CTT3(SW) Christopher Smith.
PLA sailors also visited the USS Blue Ridge to see what their American counterparts do in case of a helicopter crash. “I gave a tour to ten PLA [Navy] officers, then the ‘Crash and Smash’ firefighting team gave a firefighting demonstration,” said USS Blue Ridge’s Fire Marshal, CDC(SW) George Marquez.
While in Shanghai, Vice Adm. Willard and Capt. Maynard met with senior PLA officers, including Vice Adm. Zhao Guojun, PLA Navy East Sea Fleet Commander, and with the Vice Mayor of Shanghai, Feng Guoqing. “It’s been three years since Blue Ridge has visited mainland China,” said Vice Adm. Willard. “I can think of no port of call as historic and with such a world-renowned reputation for hospitality than Shanghai.”
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Vice Adm. Ernesto De Leon, Flag-Officer in-Charge, Philippine Navy, tours the USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) accompanied by the Commanding Officer, U.S Navy Capt. Stephen Maynard.
Photo by PH1 Winston C. Pitman, USN |
In remarks to the press, Vice Adm. Willard expressed his regard for the continuing relationship the U.S. Navy shares with the PLA Navy. “The Seventh Fleet has had a very successful 2003 and we hope we will have an equally successful 2004 in exchanging port visits between ourselves and the PLA Navy,” said Vice Adm. Willard. “This opportunity for Blue Ridge to visit China, much like the other opportunities for Seventh Fleet ships to visit mainland China, is intended to continue what is evolving as a regular military-to-military contact opportunity between us and our PLA colleagues.”
The U.S. sailors took advantage of the port visit to tour China’s capital city of Beijing. “How many people can say ‘I’ve been in the Forbidden City, I’ve walked on Tiananmen Square, and I’ve climbed on the Great Wall?’ Well, now I can,” said U.S. Navy FC3 Daniel Schrade.
Tours weren’t the only activities during the USS Blue Ridge visit to Shanghai. A basketball game between the ship’s basketball team “Blue Tide” and a PLA Navy team resulted in some friendly competition between the two countries. “The PLA Navy has some pretty good players,” said OS1 Mortonford McNair.
