Blue Ridge Returns to Pattaya

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Melvin F. Orr III
Posted: April 17, 2010

PATTAYA, Thailand - USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) and embarked 7th Fleet staff Sailors arrived in Pattaya, Thailand on April 17 for a port visit during its spring cruise.
 

PATTAYA, Thailand (April 17, 2010) - Traditional Thai dancers cleanse and renew the spirits of Sailors aboard 7th Fleet command ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) during Songkran festival, or Thai new year, as Blue Ridge arrives in Pattaya, Thailand. Blue Ridge Sailors and Marines offloaded boxes of toys, shoes, and clothing from the ship to distribute to those less fortunate as part of project Goodwill. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Daniel Viramontes/Released) | Download

Sailors are scheduled to visit Mahidol University in Bangkok and The Avenue Shopping Center to participate in community outreach projects to learn the local culture of Pattaya residents and perform charity work.

"Thailand is a favorite port of call for the crew," said Blue Ridge Commanding Officer Capt. Rudy Lupton. "Our Sailors are looking forward to relaxing, enjoying the local culture and experiencing the best that Thailand has to offer."

Dozens of Sailors are taking leave during Blue Ridge's visit, while others are making tour reservations to see many of Thailand's tourist attractions through the ship's Morale, Welfare and Recreation department.

"I always look forward to visiting Thailand because it's so different from everywhere else we go to," said Yeoman 3rd Class Darryl Brooks. "It's a great opportunity to see things you just can't see anywhere else."

Blue Ridge departed its forward-deployed home of Yokosuka, Japan Mar. 2, for a spring deployment to further positive relations with regional partners. The ship has made port visits to Busan, Republic of Korea, Hong Kong, and Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia and Indonesia. The 19,000 ton ship can carry more than 1,300 crew members and serves as a command and control ship for 7th Fleet operations. Blue Ridge 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.