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PACIFIC OCEAN – Sailors and
Marines aboard the 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.”
During an evaluation of the ship in August, Secretary of the Navy,
the Honorable Ray Mabus, determined that 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 flagship of Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet
on 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 during a scheduled fall deployment
that has seen the ship visit Guam, New Caledonia, Sydney and Cairns,
Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam.
Blue Ridge is commanded by Capt. Thom W. Burke and serves under
Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group 7/Task Force 76, the Navy's
only forward-deployed amphibious force. Blue Ridge is the flagship
for Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet. Task Force 76 is headquartered at
White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan, with an operating
detachment in Sasebo, Japan.
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