SAN DIEGO - Vice Adm. Gerald R. Beaman relieved Vice Adm. Richard W. Hunt as commander of U.S. Third Fleet during a change of command ceremony held on board USS Makin Island (LHD 8) April 21. “I have had a great tour as Commander, U.S. Third Fleet and it is directly due to the selfless support...

SASEBO, Japan - The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Lassen (DDG 82) marked its tenth year of service April 21. Commissioned in 2001, the ship is named in honor of the late Cmdr. Clyde Everett Lassen, an UH-2 Sea Sprite helicopter search and rescue pilot in Vietnam. Lassen, a...

On 19 March, more than 90 members of the Joint Task Force assigned to my headquarters departed Hawaii with very little notice and traveled to Yokota Air Base, Japan. There was nothing that we could have done to prepare ourselves for what we were about to see. The tectonic forces that moved the...

SAN DIEGO (NNS) - Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Decatur (DDG 73) returned to San Diego, Calif., after completing a seven-month deployment to the Western Pacific and U.S. Central Command area of responsibility (AOR) April 21. "Decatur Sailors excelled across the board and have...

TIMOR LESTE (NNS) - USS Guardian (MCM 5) welcomed United States Ambassador to Timor Leste, Judith Fergin, aboard April 19. Ambassador Judith Fergin's visit and tour coincided with training and community service Guardian Sailors were conducting in Timor-Leste. While aboard, the ambassador...

YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) - The Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) thanked more than a thousand 7th Fleet Sailors and Marines in Yokosuka Apr. 20 who participated in disaster relief operations off the coast of Japan. The Honorable Ray Mabus expressed his gratitude to Sailors assigned 7th Fleet ships USS...

SASEBO, Japan - USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) and USS Germantown (LSD 42) swapped commanding officers and crew during an exchange of command ceremony April 21, at Fleet Activities Sasebo. Cmdr. Mike Crary took command of Harpers Ferry and, after a short period of training and crew acclimation, will...

PEARL HARBOR - Texas Congressman, The Honorable John Culberson, (R-TX,7th) visited the Virginia-class submarine USS Texas (SSN 775) for a lunch and tour April 19 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. "It is a great honor for us to have the Congressman visiting our submarine," said Cmdr. Bob Roncska,...

YOKOSUKA, Japan - The aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) returned to the ship’s forward operating port of Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka after almost exactly one month at sea, April 20. While underway, George Washington made history by proving its ability to continue the...

SASEBO, Japan - The aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) welcomed the 75th Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) April 20, to thank the crew for their efforts during Operation Tomodachi. SECNAV Ray Mabus held an all hands call in the hangar bay with the crew and expressed gratitude for their...

SEOUL, Republic of Korea (NNS) - Sailors from Commander, Naval Forces Korea and Republic of Korea (ROK) navies honored Sailors lost on ROKN ship Cheonan (PCC-772) during a memorial and bell ringing ceremony April 20. Cheonan sank March 26, 2010, in the Yellow Sea after being struck by a torpedo...

HONOLULU, Hawaii - U.S. Pacific Fleet's Sea and Shore Sailors of the Year, Hospital Corpsman 1st Class (FMF/SW/AW) Andrew Jenkins and Operations Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW) Kristi Pashkevich, were named April 15 during a ceremony and luncheon at the Hale Koa Hotel here. Rear Adm Timothy M...

SASEBO, Japan - Three ships and more than 5,000 Sailors from the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group (CSG) arrived in Sasebo, Japan, April 19 for a scheduled port visit. The aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), guided-missile destroyer USS Preble (DDG 88), and guided-missile cruiser USS...

PACIFIC OCEAN - The guided-missile destroyer USS McCampbell (DDG 85) conducted a passing exercise with the Republic of Korea Ulsan-class frigate ROKS Seoul (FF 952) April 18. This was the first time McCampbell operated with the Republic of Korea Navy, since the exercise Invincible Spirit July...

YOKOSUKA, Japan - The forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS George Washington will return to Fleet Activities Yokosuka April 20. The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier was completing routine maintenance on March 11 when the earthquake and tsunami struck northern Honshu. The ship departed Fleet...

USS GEORGE WASHINGTON, At Sea (NNS) - Chief petty officers aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73) are using the master chief petty officer of the Navy's 2011 CPO 365/Induction guidance April 15, as they prepare the ship's CPO board eligible first class petty officers (FCPO) for the upcoming 2011 CPO...

USS RONALD REAGAN, At Sea (NNS) - The deputy commander of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 14 reached a major naval aviation milestone April 18 on board the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). Capt. Kevin "Nix" Mannix tallied his 1,000th arrested landing with the trap of his F/A-18F Super Hornet...

TIMOR LESTE - USS Guardian (MCM 5) anchored in Port Hera, Timor Leste April 15 to train with the Timorese navy and participate in multiple cultural exchanges. During this visit, Guardian helped dedicate a new school house, built by Navy Seabees, and trained with the Timorese navy in areas such as...

PACIFIC OCEAN (April 16, 2011) - Families of Sailors from the Japan-based aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73), evacuated after the March 11 earthquake, are adjusting well to their new lives back in the United States and you don’t have to look beyond the headlines in Johnstown,...

MAKASSAR, Indonesia - The crew of mine countermeasures ship USS Guardian (MCM 5) experienced Indonesian culture and strengthened America’s connections with Indonesia during an April 11-12 visit here. Guardian received a warm welcome from Indonesia’s military marching band and cultural dancers upon...