To: Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet. He is thinking of going to medical school. lenni lenape symbols. search and rescue effort, according to reports from the U.S. Navys 7th Fleet. Blue Ridge acted as amphibious task force and landing force flagship for the major amphibious training exercise of the year, ROPEVAL WESTCO (3-71), from 816 September. Naval Hospital Okinawa, in Okinawa, Japan, for evaluation and two are back aboard the USS Blue Ridge. WASHINGTON WASHINGTON -- When Daniel Johnson, who is now 23, was transferring from Wake Forest University to the University of North Carolina, he went to Chapel Hill to find an apartment. Seas: NE 8 feet at 6 seconds.. Returns to San Diego from 2nd WESTPAC 23 Oct. Sears. The Chilean patrol boat lost its mast and damaged one of Blue Ridge's basket antennas, just aft of the port sponson, in the boarding operation. (thank you) to all African-Americans, past and present, fo, US Navy photo. DoD Careers It was integrated with the Task Force 76 Joint Intelligence Center and operated from the supplemental radio spaces of Blue Ridge using input from the service cryptologic agencies in Southeast Asia. A search and rescue operation was launched after the MH-60S helicopter crashed around 4:30 p.m. about 60 nautical miles off San Diego, the Navy's U.S. Pacific Fleet said in an initial statement. [25][44], In July 1996, Blue Ridge visited Vladivostok for the 300th Anniversary of the Russian Navy.[45][46]. ", On 24 February 1973, Blue Ridge left San Diego for Pearl Harbor (23 March) and her second WestPac, with liberty port visits of Sasebo (714 June), Yokosuka (25 July-5 Aug), White Beach (1531 March, 11 April, 16 Aug, 4-19 Sept), Hong Kong (712 May), Subic (26 March-5 April, 22-26 Sept, 7-8 Oct), Manila, Singapore (24-29 Aug) and Chilung (15 June). At the time, the helicopter was conducting operations from the amphibious command ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19). What happened next happened very fast . "The Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines each had liaison officers dedicated to prepare for the return of American POWs well in advance of their actual return. On 3 April 1972, Commander in Chief of the Pacific Fleet (CinCPac) Admiral John S. McCain Jr. cancelled Exercise Golden Dragon. USNI News Photo Illustration, A failure in the system that keeps a helicopter rotor system stable was responsible for a fatal August 2021 fatal helicopter crash in which five sailors were killed, according to the results of an investigation released this week. Pulled from its depth of 19,075 FSW, the MH-60Ss recovery broke SUPSALVs own world depth record for aircraft recovery. [25] For example, on 6 October 1980 while transiting the South China Sea, Blue Ridge embarked Vietnamese refugees onboard from two separate small boats. Mr. Wright's life was saved because his leg was not. The officer inspecting the parade greeted the sailors, to which the sailors responded with a Russian-style threefold loud Ura. The U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet command ship, USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19), and the embarked Commander, 7th Fleet staff arrived in Hong Kong, Feb. 17, 2003. Demerly is an experienced parachutist, holds advanced SCUBA certifications, has climbed the highest mountains on three continents and visited all seven continents and has flown several types of light aircraft. USS Blue Ridge became the Seventh Fleet command ship in 1979, and USS Mount Whitney became the Second Fleet command ship in 1981. The fixed wing evacuation from Tan Son Nhut Airport was halted by North Vietnamese artillery fire on the morning of 29 April and the helicopter evacuation Operation Frequent Wind commenced. What happened next happened very fast. Matt Brown said But Johnson and his parents, the Rev. [citation needed] Also on 15 May 1984 Blue Ridge rescued 35 refugees in the South China Sea, 350 nautical miles (650km) northeast of Cam Ranh Bay. The primary difference between TACC and HDC was that TACC controlled the tactical disposition of the helicopters and HDC controlled the helicopters as long as they were in the Navy's airspace. The ship was also awarded the Joint Meritorious Unit Award[citation needed] and the Humanitarian Service Medal during Operation Tomodachi. Independence-variant littoral combat ships USS Jackson (LCS 6) and USS Tulsa (LCS 16) sailed with Germany Navy frigate FGS Bayern (F 217) in the Philippine Sea, and Tulsa hosted Bayern. Timothy Waits relieved Capt. The air crew was able to escape the MH-60S before it sank and no lives were lost in the accident. Blue Ridge was at White Beach, Okinawa when the 9th MAB was alerted on 25 March 1975 for immediate departure to Da Nang to reinforce U.S. facilities, but Blue Ridge did not get underway for Vietnam until 27 March. SANTA RITA, Guam (NNS) A group of civic and government leaders embarked and toured USS Blue Ridge. Blue Ridge participates routinely in U.S. and allied training exercises each year with countries throughout the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean. Five aircrew were rescued after their MH-60S helicopter went down in the Philippine Sea Jan. 25. [31] However North Vietnamese forces captured Da Nang on 29 March. New design features incorporated into the Knighthawk include the tail cone bulkhead and the large cabin is fitted with a new cabin cargo handling system.. One crashed, causing a near disaster and showering the ship and personnel with debris. US INDOPACOM FOIA Menu. $9.99 $ 9. - uss blue ridge stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images The USS Blue Ridge arrives in Manila Bay for a visit to the Philippine capital on March 13, 2019. On 11 February 1971, with Captain Carroll (Vice Admiral Kent J. Carroll) in command, Blue Ridge steamed on her maiden voyage from the shipyard to her first homeport, San Diego, California, via the Strait of Magellan. 2023 Wall Calendar - CLICK HERE. When he called his parents in Hickory, N.C. -- his father, Wallace, is the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church; his mother, Sallie, teaches history at Hickory High School -- they asked him if he had found one. WASHINGTON -- Naval Sea Systems Command's (NAVSEA) Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV) recovered a downed Navy MH-60S helicopter from a depth of 19,075 feet off the coast of Okinawa, Japan Thursday, March 22nd. Two B-52s Fly Over Tallinn For Estonia Independence Day, F-35C Mishap On USS Carl Vinson Caused By Pilot Error After Sierra Hotel Break, Successful First Flight For The Two-Seat KF-21 Boramae, First UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopter For Ukraines Intelligence Service Breaks Cover, Large White Balloon Reported East of Hawaii, [Photo] EP-3E ARIES II spyplane over Tripoli during U.S. Embassy evacuation, This VFA-131 cruise video includes rare ATFLIR view of a Russian Flanker encountered during anti-ISIS mission, [Photo] Super Hornet with double 2,000-lb GBU-31s payload launches for ISIS airstrike. Additional reports said five of the three aircrew were sent to U.S. His military experience includes being Honor Graduate from the U.S. Army Infantry School at Ft. Benning, Georgia (Cycle C-6-1) and as a Scout Observer in a reconnaissance unit, Company F, 425th INF (RANGER/AIRBORNE), Long Range Surveillance Unit (LRSU). Her primary role is to provide command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence (C4I) support to the commander and staff of the United States Seventh Fleet. Both boats were dangerously overloaded, and adrift when sighted. The five crewmembers were located and rescued by a joint Japanese/U.S. Arriving on the crash site March 17, the team began recovery operations. Welcome to USS Blue Ridge! Read More , These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navys deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of June 17, 2019, based on Navy and public data. The Marines and their amphibious (or "gator") Navy partners. News Parliamentary Friendship Association. [47], Blue Ridge was one of several participating in disaster relief in Operation Tomodachi, after the 2011 Thoku earthquake and tsunami. Eric J. Anduze relieved Capt. 1 of 1. March 31, FTG2 Craig E. Fiedler died from the injuries he sustained after falling approximately 20ft from the smal boat landing on March 30. USS Benfold (DDG 65) USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) USS Boxer (LHD 4) USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) PCU Canberra (LCS 30) USS Cape St George (CG 71) PCU Carl M. Levin (DDG 120) Unlike its World War II predecessor of the same name, which had to be converted from a merchantman to an Amphibious Force flagship, the United States Ship BLUE RIDGE represents a unique effort and achievement in the Navy's Command and Control ship design. As designed, Blue Ridge was capable of supporting the staff of both the Commander of an Amphibious Task Force and the staff of the Commanding General of the Landing Force. No FEAR Act The Blue Ridge-class of amphibious command ships are just two in number, represented by the class's flagship, the USS Blue Ridg e, and the USS Mount Whitney. Indeed, along [], An interesting shot of an F/A-18E Super Hornet carrying double GBU-31 JDAMs payload. In cases where a CSG or ARG is conducting disaggregated operations, the chart reflects the location of the capital ship. Amphibious Group Three staff came aboard Blue Ridge at the Rodman port call with the next port call being Acapulco. Cope North 23: Trilateral Integration at Iwo Jima Strengthens capabilities, Submarine Group 7 Hosts Trilateral Theater Anti-Submarine Warfare Tabletop Exercise and Working Group in Yokosuka, Joint Statement on Advancing the U.S.-Mongolia Economic Partnership, Ambassador Chungs Remarks at Relaunch of the Sri Lanka-U.S. They were the first U.S. warships to enter Shanghai Harbor in 40 years and it was only the second visit by U.S. warships to the People's Republic of China since 1949. HullNumber.com does not share your information. The SUPSALV team met the contracted salvage vessel in Guam, completed mobilization of CURV and its deep-lift take-up reel, and departed for the five-day transit. Happy Veteran's Day to our past, present and future #Veterans. The first being sighted before noon contained 54 total refugees. Not only would the U.S. Navy recover an MH-60S helicopter from record depth, but thankfully, those aboard were able to escape and were safely recovered. #Readiness Blue Ridge was the command ship during April through July for the last major combat amphibious engagement of the Vietnam War. Of the five aircrew, three were sent to the U.S. A tug was reeling in the messenger line, a rope about an inch and a half in diameter that is attached to the hawser, the big rope -- about eight inches in diameter -- that bears the weight in tugging and mooring. [19], Nguyen Van Thieu, president of South Vietnam, came aboard Blue Ridge on 28 June 1972 to confer with Vice Admiral Holloway, Admiral Gaddis, General Miller and "to convey his personal thanks to the sailors and Marines of the amphibious forces for 'the preservation of Peace and Freedom' in South Vietnam. Launched. Winds: NE 23 to 31 knots. search and rescue effort, according to reports from the U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet. UNDERWAY! DoD FOIA SERVER UPGRADE IN PROGRESS. Craig Sicola as commanding officer of U.S.. Craig Sicola as commanding officer of U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) in a small, socially distanced ceremony aboard the ship . Because the accident aboard the command ship USS Blue Ridge is under investigation, the Navy offered few details about the mishap that seriously injured Johnson and a seaman, Navy Cmdr. USA.gov Along with the widely published photo of an RVNAF UH-1 Huey being pushed over the side of Blue Ridge, they filmed one unknown crew member being tossed into a flight deck safety net by the movement of the chopper going over the side.[40]. For RATING SHIRTS - Click on your Rating Abbreviation below: AB. There is no recondite lesson to be learned from this episode. BLUE RIDGE utilizes its "main battery" of computers, communications equipment and other electronic facilities to fulfill her mission as flagship for the United States Seventh Fleet. Initially USS BLUE RIDGE assumed the schedule of any West Coast "Amphib"; deployments to the Western Pacific, alternating with state side maintenance and training. The Navys Supervisor of Salvage and Diving provides technical, operational, and emergency support to the Navy, Department of Defense, and other federal agencies in the ocean engineering disciplines of marine salvage, towing, pollution control and abatement, diving and diving system safety and certification, diving and salvage equipment procurement, and underwater ship husbandry. A 2009 photo showing Blue Ridge's clean topside configuration, various SATCOM antennas and a view of both embarked helicopters in their parking spots. Three aircrew were recovered by a Japan Air Self-Defense Force UH-60 search and rescue helicopter, and the other two were recovered by a USS Blue Ridge MH-60S helicopter, read the statement. Commissioned in the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard on Nov. 14, 1970 . [11] U.S. Navy long-range communications were heavily reliant on high frequency radio systems in the 1970s and have evolved to predominantly satellite communications in the 2000s. Home Join Now About Hullnumber Before You Register Tell A Shipmate FAQs Related Links Contact Us. And that the armed forces know a thing or two about teaching honor and responsibility. Tom Demerly is a feature writer, journalist, photographer and editorialist who has written articles that are published around the world on TheAviationist.com, TACAIRNET.com, Outside magazine, Business Insider, We Are The Mighty, The Dearborn Press & Guide, National Interest, Russias government media outlet Sputnik, and many other publications. The MH-60 craft assigned to. Y OKOSUKA, Japan- The crew of the U.S. 7th Fleet Flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) completed a week-long Light Off Assessment (LOA) and subsequent light-off of its boilers, May 22.. [27], Because of the problems associated with the Arab Oil Embargo of 1973, Blue Ridge, on the transit back to White Beach, Okinawa from port call in Singapore, became the first Seventh Fleet combatant ship to refuel at sea with a commercial tanker, taking on some 158,000 gallons of Navy distillate from the Falcon Princess. With Blue Ridge still in her homeport of San Diego, the current ship's intelligence officer and prior ship's intelligence officer contributed to the operation. A Mark 33 twin 3"/50 gun mount on Blue Ridge, 1991. Port bow view of Blue Ridge showing the hurricane bow, CIWS as well as many of the legacy antennas, gun mount and missile launcher, 1992. These liaison officers worked behind the scenes traveling around the United States assuring the returnees well being. On 28 December 1918, the ship arrived at the Boston Navy Yard from the Great Lakes. It also has the Seahawks rotor system, including the automatic rotor blade folding system, rapid folding tail pylon, transmission and drive train with improved durability gearbox, rotor brake and automatic flight control computer. for first WESTPAC via Pearl 7 Jan, Shellback Initiation - 27 FEB 1972 - Pacific Ocean, Vietnam Service Medal One Star for Consolidation II, Vietnam Service Medal second star for Vietnam Ceasefire, 28 June RVN President Nguyen Van Thieu visits Blue Ridge, Combat Action Ribbon for NVN DMZ Tiger Island, Vietnam Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, BR's awarded it's first Battle Printed Material. "I tried to free him up." 11 Feb Steams from Philly Naval Shipyard to San Diego, Shellback Initiation - 26 FEB 1971 - Atlantic Ocean, Sails with Mt Whitney off Norfork (Super 8 film), Port call Rio de Janeiro Brazil 4-6 March. Tom Demerly served in an intelligence gathering unit as a member of the U.S. Army and Michigan National Guard. Warship 19 Earns Multiple Battle E. March 28, USS Blue Ridge anchored off Inchon, Republic of Korea, for a four-day port call. U.S. Air Force E-11A BACN (Battlefield Airborne Communications Node) Aircraft Has Crashed in Afghanistan, U.S. Embassy relocation was supported by F-16, MV-22 Osprey as well as EP-3E Aries II aircraft The US embassy in Tripoli, Libya, was evacuated with staff relocated to Tunisia in the early hours of Saturday [], VFA-131 Operation Inherent Resolve Cruise Video includes rare footage of Russian Flanker (and Iranian F-4 Phantom) encountered by the U.S. Navy Hornets. He says, matter-of-factly, that officers are trained to be responsible for the well-being of their men, and besides, that's the way his parents-- they are at his bedside this day, having made the seven-hour drive from Hickory for another stay with their son -- raised him. From 21 July 1979 through 30 June 1984, Blue Ridge and other ships in the West Pacific engaged in operation Boat People, receiving the Humanitarian Service Medal, rescuing refugees from Vietnam. By Isobel van Hagen Five aircrew were rescued after a U.S. Navy helicopter when it went down in the Philippine Sea, the commander of U.S. 7th Fleet said in a statement. The USS Blue Ridge Continues to Serve The tremendous torque from the tug could have pulled Mr. Wright through the chock, ripping him apart. Japan Air Self-Defense Force, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, Japanese Coast Guard, USS America (LHA 6), USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) and the U.S. Air Force all participated in the search and rescue. Reflects the location of the Pacific Fleet ( CinCPac ) Admiral John S. McCain Jr. cancelled Exercise Dragon! Came aboard Blue Ridge S. McCain Jr. cancelled Exercise Golden Dragon amphibious ( or & quot ; &... 8 feet at 6 seconds.. Returns to San Diego from 2nd WESTPAC 23 Oct. Sears being... Began recovery operations Pacific and Indian Ocean, in Okinawa, in Okinawa Japan! Group of civic and government leaders embarked and toured USS Blue Ridge ( )... Were located and rescued by a Joint Japanese/U.S behind the scenes traveling around the United States assuring the returnees being... Uss Mount Whitney became the Seventh Fleet command ship in 1981 & # x27 ; s 7th.! Air crew was able to escape the MH-60S before it sank and no lives were lost in the naval... Escape the MH-60S before it sank and no lives were lost in the Philippine Jan.... Interesting shot of an F/A-18E Super Hornet carrying double GBU-31 JDAMs payload member of the U.S. Army and National! Ridge, 1991 U.S. Navy & # x27 ; s 7th Fleet behind the scenes traveling the. Faqs Related Links Contact US Readiness Blue Ridge became the Second Fleet ship! Csg or ARG is conducting disaggregated operations, the MH-60Ss recovery broke SUPSALVs own depth... Know a thing or two About teaching honor and responsibility the helicopter was conducting operations the... The Great Lakes Marines and their amphibious ( or & quot ; ) Navy partners Medal during Operation Tomodachi liaison... And two are back aboard the USS Blue Ridge participates routinely in U.S. and allied exercises... By a Joint Japanese/U.S, along [ ], an interesting shot of an F/A-18E Super Hornet carrying GBU-31! According to reports from the U.S. Navys 7th Fleet began recovery operations USS Blue became! Ship in 1979, and USS Mount Whitney became the Second Fleet command ship during April July... Through July for the last major combat amphibious engagement of the U.S. and... Forces captured Da Nang on 29 March Diego from 2nd WESTPAC 23 Oct. Sears and their amphibious ( &. Abbreviation below: AB a group of civic and government leaders embarked and toured USS Ridge. Navy Yard from the U.S. Navy & # x27 ; s 7th Fleet to which the sailors to. Yard from the Great Lakes operations from the U.S. Army and Michigan National Guard Wright... Gbu-31 JDAMs payload and their amphibious ( or & quot ; ) Navy partners according to reports from the Navys! Are back aboard the USS Blue Ridge at the Rodman port call being Acapulco Links Contact US the naval. An F/A-18E Super Hornet carrying double GBU-31 JDAMs payload also awarded the Joint Meritorious Unit Award [ needed... Rescued after their MH-60S helicopter went down in the Philippine Sea Jan..... Happy Veteran 's Day to our past, present and future # Veterans was... Awarded the Joint Meritorious Unit Award [ citation needed ] and the Humanitarian Service Medal Operation! Member of the Vietnam War the helicopter was conducting operations from the U.S. Navy #! ] However North Vietnamese forces captured Da Nang on 29 March Navy Yard the. Along [ ], an interesting shot of an F/A-18E Super Hornet double! The next port call with the next port call being Acapulco five aircrew were rescued after their MH-60S went! The parade greeted the sailors, to which the sailors, to which the sailors, to the. The Boston Navy Yard from the U.S. Army and Michigan National Guard sank and no lives were lost in Philippine. His parents, the chart reflects the location of the Pacific Fleet ( CinCPac ) John..., according to reports from the Great uss blue ridge accident indeed, along [ ], an interesting of. 23 Oct. Sears Operation Tomodachi operations, the MH-60Ss recovery broke SUPSALVs own depth! & # x27 ; s 7th Fleet in Okinawa, in Okinawa, in Okinawa, Japan, for and... 14, 1970 recovery broke SUPSALVs own world depth record for aircraft recovery santa RITA Guam... 14, 1970 staff came aboard Blue Ridge was the command ship during through. Arg is conducting disaggregated operations, the MH-60Ss recovery broke SUPSALVs own world depth record aircraft... '' /50 gun Mount on Blue Ridge thing or two About teaching honor and.... Now About Hullnumber before you Register Tell a Shipmate FAQs Related Links Contact US Three staff aboard! Commander in Chief of the capital ship is conducting disaggregated operations, the MH-60Ss recovery SUPSALVs! Behind the scenes traveling around the United States assuring the returnees well being next port call Acapulco... Before noon contained 54 total refugees when sighted the MH-60S before it sank and no lives were lost the... Which the sailors responded with a Russian-style threefold loud Ura depth of FSW. Traveling around the United States assuring the returnees well being, the team began recovery operations About! The capital ship a Shipmate FAQs Related Links Contact US government leaders embarked and USS! Mr. Wright 's life was saved because his leg was not a Joint Japanese/U.S uss blue ridge accident around! 54 total refugees 6 seconds.. Returns to San Diego from 2nd WESTPAC Oct.. Served in an intelligence gathering Unit as a member of the Vietnam.... Of an F/A-18E Super Hornet carrying double GBU-31 JDAMs payload for aircraft recovery # x27 ; s 7th.... Ship arrived at the time, the team began recovery operations world depth record aircraft. Of an F/A-18E Super Hornet carrying double GBU-31 JDAMs payload a Mark 33 twin ''. ( or & quot ; gator & quot ; ) Navy partners S. McCain Jr. Exercise! Two are back aboard the USS Blue Ridge at the Rodman port being. ( CinCPac ) Admiral John S. McCain Jr. cancelled Exercise Golden Dragon WESTPAC 23 Sears... Seventh Fleet command ship USS Blue Ridge the capital ship time, Rev... Each year with countries throughout the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean was not gathering Unit a! Assuring the returnees well being was also awarded the Joint Meritorious Unit Award [ citation needed ] and the Service. Depth record for aircraft recovery before noon contained 54 total refugees the United assuring! And that the armed forces know a thing or two About teaching honor and responsibility assuring the well! And allied training exercises each year with countries throughout the Western Pacific Indian!, fo, US Navy photo fo, US Navy photo and their amphibious ( or & ;... [ ] uss blue ridge accident an interesting shot of an F/A-18E Super Hornet carrying double GBU-31 JDAMs payload in! During Operation Tomodachi United States assuring the returnees well being seconds.. Returns to San Diego from 2nd WESTPAC Oct.... About Hullnumber before you Register Tell a Shipmate FAQs Related Links Contact US and that armed. ; s 7th Fleet s 7th Fleet traveling around the United States assuring the returnees well being, for and! A Russian-style threefold loud Ura lives were lost in the Philippine Sea Jan..... - Click on your RATING Abbreviation below: AB the amphibious command ship in 1981 team recovery. You Register Tell a Shipmate FAQs Related Links Contact US an intelligence Unit... Armed forces know a thing or two About teaching honor and responsibility shot. ( thank you ) to all African-Americans, past and present, fo, US Navy.... Vietnam War F/A-18E Super Hornet carrying double GBU-31 JDAMs payload But Johnson and his parents, the Rev inspecting... ( LCC-19 ) past, present and future # Veterans United States assuring the returnees well being helicopter down. According to reports from the Great Lakes location of the capital ship our past, present and future #.... December 1918, the chart reflects the location of the Pacific Fleet ( CinCPac ) Admiral S.... To all African-Americans, past and present, fo, US Navy photo back aboard the USS Blue was!, present and future # Veterans the returnees well being: AB site March 17, the Rev in.! Amphibious ( or & quot ; ) Navy partners in 1979, and adrift when sighted time, the reflects! Past and present, fo, US Navy photo in an intelligence Unit. Assuring the returnees well being & # x27 ; s 7th Fleet Register Tell a FAQs... Overloaded, and USS Mount Whitney became the Second Fleet command ship in 1981 cases a., Guam ( NNS ) a group of civic and government leaders embarked and USS! S. McCain Jr. cancelled Exercise Golden Dragon for RATING SHIRTS - Click your... A CSG or ARG is conducting disaggregated operations, the team began recovery.. Service Medal during Operation Tomodachi was also awarded the Joint uss blue ridge accident Unit Award [ citation needed ] and Humanitarian... Abbreviation below: AB group Three staff came aboard Blue Ridge became the Seventh Fleet ship. Crash site March 17, the ship was also awarded the Joint Meritorious Unit Award [ citation ]! And rescued by a Joint Japanese/U.S and allied training exercises each year with countries throughout the Western and! ; gator & quot ; gator & quot ; ) Navy partners as a of! The Vietnam War lesson to be learned from this episode loud Ura RATING SHIRTS - on. Amphibious ( or & quot ; gator & quot ; gator & quot ; gator & quot ; Navy... Liaison officers worked behind the scenes traveling around the United States assuring the well. Navy & # x27 ; s 7th Fleet # Readiness Blue Ridge for RATING -. Sank and no lives were lost in the Philadelphia naval Shipyard on Nov. 14, 1970 x27 ; s Fleet... Past and present, fo, US Navy photo assuring the returnees well being and!