USS Ronald Reagan Carrier Group Departs Philippines After Helping Typhoon Victims

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080703-03
Release Date: 7/3/2008 3:36:00 PM

By Lt. Ron Flanders, USS Ronald Reagan Public Affairs Carrier Group 7 Public Affairs

USS RONALD REAGAN, At Sea (NNS) -- The aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) departed the Sulu Sea and the waters around the Philippine island of Panay, July 3, after assisting the Philippine government's humanitarian relief operation.

Prior to the group's departure, senior officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) thanked the more than 40 members of the strike group's humanitarian assistance support team in a special ceremony.

"We simply cannot put into words how grateful we are for your operational assistance," said Gen. Alexander Yano, AFP chief of staff.

"Together, we had a smooth coordination and maximization of our efforts to achieve our objectives of delivering help to typhoon-affected areas. This expeditious support testifies to the longstanding camaraderie between our armed forces."

At the request of the Philippine government, President George W. Bush ordered the Navy ships to render quick response to assist the AFP in relief efforts to Panay. Staging from the group's flagship, the Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), the embarked aircraft of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 14 provided a heavy lift capability that was vital to transporting food, potable water and medical supplies from Iloilo airport to sites all around the island.

Flying the humanitarian missions were C-2A Greyhound cargo aircraft from Fleet Logistics Squadron 30; HH-60H and SH-60F Seahawk helicopters from Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 4, embarked aboard Ronald Reagan; SH-60B Seahawk helicopters from Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 49, embarked aboard the guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville (CG 62), the guided-missile destroyer USS Howard (DDG 83), and the guided-missile frigate USS Thach (FFG 43); and HSL-37 embarked aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Gridley (DDG 101).

Aircrews flew 332 sorties around Panay and delivered more than 519,000 pounds of much-needed supplies to typhoon victims. The four ships with Reagan positioned themselves around the island and served as fueling stations to keep the relief effort moving.

"This was a mission that was tremendously rewarding for our Sailors," said Rear Adm. Phil Wisecup. "The aircrews flew 20-35 missions per day, sunup to sundown. Our aircraft maintainers worked through the night. Every Sailor in the strike group had a hand in this.

"More importantly, we worked alongside our counterparts from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and brought real help to their people."

CVW-14 aircrews saw firsthand the devastation of the typhoon. Hundreds drowned in Panay, and thousands were left without clean water or food. The U.S. Navy and AFP personnel formed a quick-action team to get immediate aid to the most affected typhoon victims.

"Seeing the faces of the children when we landed was priceless," said Chief Aviation Warfare Systems Operator (NAC/AW) Andrew Smith, an HS-4 crew chief who flew for a week straight, delivering rice and water.

"When we got out to deliver the supplies, they were so happy; they just wanted to touch us. It is something I will always remember."

In addition to the airlifts, Ronald Reagan engineers ventured out into Iloilo and fixed generators that were completely submerged in water and mud, restoring electrical power to two local hospitals. Senior doctors from Reagan's health services department coordinated with AFP personnel and provincial government officials.

"The entire ship is feeling very good about what we did," said Capt. Kenneth Norton, Ronald Reagan's commanding officer. "We were just happy to help."

For more news from USS Ronald Reagan, visit navy.mil . . ..
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Bomb Bhurma

"When we got out to deliver the supplies, they were so happy; they just wanted to touch us.

But thats when we reminded them that we were Americans and not fRench, so there was no need to touch us to get food.

America is a generous and benevolent nation.

PopsFrost wrote:

America is a generous and benevolent nation.

Amen to that.

Our boys risked their lives diving for bodies in a toxic overturned ship and this is the thanks they get?

abs-cbnnews.com . . .

Email this bitch and let her know what you think!

the token gesture of US President Bush to send over one of the Navy’s prime aircraft carrier, an offer made convenient by the fact that the Nimitz class, nuclear-powered USS Ronald Reagan was in nearby Hong Kong.

the main problem is and always has been that we have had to rely on the US’s word – or silence -- on the matter." (if it had nukes on board)

we want to see more soldiers engaged in humanitarian work and instruments of destruction used instead for saving lives, we can’t be blind to the dangers in the militarization of humanitarian aid, a global trend where military buildup is increasingly twinned with humanitarian goals, with the end result of more resources going to defense.

In this scheme of things, the USAID assistance of $100,000 to typhoon victims is a minute fraction.

$100,000? Are you fucking joking? That didn't buy the fuel bitch.

What we are questioning here are priorities that continue to define governments and the world today – that is, that much more money is being devoted to arms build-up and defense than to actual humanitarian aid.

Finally, there is a subliminal, discomfiting message being sent when warships are glorified beyond their real purpose. Military objects and symbols are deceptively juxtaposed with humanitarianism. The USS Ronald Reagan’s insignia comes with the words "Peace through strength" because Reagan believed that America won the Cold War by virtue of being strong. Noble-sounding, but how different is it from the old adage and recurring mentality that "Might is right"?

Give me a mother fucking break,
What a piece of shit cuntry.

Please email her mcf178@yahoo.com

PopsFrost wrote:

America is a generous and benevolent nation.

It has become our burden and our duty.

What a piece of shit cuntry.

Apparently, you're unaware that the Philippines is one of THE most pro-US countries in the world. There are anti-US dipshits like that cunt-writer in every country, but there are far less in the Philippines than there are in canada, Australia, Britain or even our own country.

Reading shit from MIRIAM CORONEL FERRER and thinking it represents the views of an entire country is like thinking San Francisco newspapers represent mainstream America.