Shore leave not allowed outside of Navy base
The Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group arrived at the Naval Base Guam today for a brief stop to resupply and provide shore leave for its crew, the Joint Region Marianas announced.
A source said more carriers and cruisers are scheduled to arrive this weekend, ferrying a total of more than 7,000 sailors.
However, the source, said Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero has declined a request for the sailors’ liberty outside of the Navy base.
Krystal Paco-San Agustin, the government of Guam's communications director, said, "Gov. Leon Guerrero never declined a request for the sailors' liberty outside of the Navy base. She was never asked. There was no request made to her."
The USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) arrived yesterday and USS Russell (DDG 53) is scheduled to arrive today.
“Sailors will be limited to the pier to mitigate the risk of Covid-19 transmission,” JRM said.
In February, the USS Theodore Roosevelt had another Covid-19 transmission —the second since last year’s mass outbreak. The Navy reported the three sailors who had tested positive for Covid-19 placed in isolation aboard the ship. No subsequent report followed.
A source told the Pacific Island Times that the USS Somerset (LPD-25), a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock, USS San Diego (CL-53) was an Atlanta-class light cruiser, and the USS Port Royal (CG-73), a Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser are scheduled to arrive Saturday. The USS Makin Island (LHD-8), a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship, is anticipated to arrive on Guam on Sunday.
The Navy ships’ visits are brief, the source said. "They are coming and going, one after another," the source said.
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JRM said the USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group departed San Diego for a scheduled deployment to the Indo-Pacific Dec. 23, and has since operated with Australia, India, Japan, Malaysia and the Republic of Korea and provided presence throughout U.S. 7th Fleet.
The Navy said the strike group has operated in the Pacific and Indian oceans since departing Guam on Feb. 4 after a four-day port visit.
“The TRCSG is deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to build partnerships that foster maritime security and is prepared to conduct a wide range of operations that support humanitarian efforts and freedom of the seas,” JRM said. “U. S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy's largest forward-deployed fleet and employs 50 to 70 ships and submarines across the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans. 7th Fleet routinely operates and interacts with 35 maritime nations while conducting missions to preserve and protect a free and open Indo-Pacific region.”
The TRCSG consists of USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), Carrier Air Wing (VW) 11, the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52), Destroyer Squadron 23, and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Russell (DDG 59) and USS John Finn (DDG 113). The Taiwan News reported that the USS Theodore Roosevelt and Makin Island were spotted Monday to the northwest of the northern Philippine island of Luzon, while 25 Chinese warplanes buzzed Taiwan's air defense identification zone.