Monday, April 05, 2010

Blue Ridge Pulls into Kota Kinabalu

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Melvin F. Orr III, USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) Public Affairs

April 5, 2010 - KOTA KINABALU, Malaysia (NNS) -- USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) and embarked 7th Fleet staff Sailors arrived in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, April 3 for a port visit during a scheduled spring deployment.

Sailors aboard Blue Ridge will visit the local cultural sites of Tun Mustapha Tower, Sabah State Mosque and Mount Kinabalu, Southeast Asia's tallest mountain, during tours offered by Blue Ridge's Morale, Welfare and Recreation Department.

"I can't wait for our visit to Malaysia, because I've never been to this area of Asia before," said Seaman Brandon Frasier.

The crew will mow grass and maintain gardens at the Holy Family Senior Citizen Home and play together with children at the Bukit Harapan-Therapeutic Community and Hospital Likas' Children Ward as part of community outreach projects offered during the ship's visit.

"The crew is excited to visit with our neighbors and have the chance to interact with the community in the upcoming service projects," said Capt. Rudy Lupton, Blue Ridge's commanding officer.

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.

No comments: