USS Curtis Wilbur DDG-54 visits Qingdao,PRC

bd popeye

The Last Jedi
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USS Curtis Wilbur DDG-54 recently made a port visit to Qingdao China. I love this type of co-operation between the US and PRC. :eek: Maybe one day a CVN will be allowed to make a port visit somewhere else in the PRC besides Hong Kong. :rolleyes: Nice story. Check it out. :)

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Steel Hammer†Enjoys Historic Visit to Qingdao, China
Story Number: NNS050923-20
Release Date: 9/23/2005 8:00:00 PM

By Lt. j.g. Jessica L. Gandy, USS Curtis Wilbur Public Affairs

ABOARD USS CURTIS WILBUR, At Sea (NNS) -- The crew of USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54), affectionally known as the “Steel Hammer,†enjoyed a three-day port visit to Qingdao, People’s Republic of China, Sept. 13-16.

As the crew manned the rails, Curtis Wilbur was escorted into port by her host ship, People’s Liberation Army (Navy) Qingdao (DDG 113).

Cmdr. John T. Lauer III, Curtis Wilbur’s commanding officer, and Command Master Chief CMDCM (SW/SS) Buck Bailey were greeted by Senior Capt. Wu Geng, director of the North Sea Fleet Headquarters General Office. Also attending the arrival ceremony were representatives from the Foreign Affairs Office of Qingdao, Qingdao Municipal Government representatives, Qingdao Garrison Command representatives and Beijing Naval Attaché, Capt. Kevin Ketchmark.

“This visit is important for promoting friendship and cooperation between the two navies and two countries, and most importantly to combat the threats of the world today,†said Geng during his welcoming remarks.

“The crew is very pleased to be in Qingdao and is looking forward to meeting the people of Qingdao. It is a great example of the growing cooperation between the United States and China,†Lauer said.

Curtis Wilbur’s visit marks the eighth visit by a U.S. Navy warship in Qingdao.

Once official ceremonies were complete, Sailors began experiencing all of the many liberty opportunities the city offered. Many Curtis Wilbur Sailors took advantage of the rare opportunity to visit a Chinese warship when their host ship Qingdao invited them on a tour.

“The food was good, and it was a chance to engage in conversation with people we won’t likely ever meet again,†said Bailey.

Sailors could be found at one of Qingdao’s renowned beaches, enjoying a mooncake during the mid-autumn festival and sightseeing in one of the biggest cities in eastern Asia. Sailors also frequented tourist attractions in and around the city, including the May 4th Square, the May 4th Monument and Zhanqiao Pier.

Embarked Destroyer Squadron 15 Chaplain Lt. Carla Barry and Religious Program Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Eddy visited the Catholic Church, Christian Church and other significant landmarks of Qingdao.

“We were very surprised by the churches,†said Eddy. “They were beautiful. It had the impression of being in one of the great Cathedrals in Europe. We were able to enter the bell tower and saw a beautiful view of the city,†he said.

Ninety-five Sailors, including seven Curtis Wilbur chief petty officer selectees, enjoyed two MWR-sponsored overnight trips to nearby Beijing to visit the Great Wall of China, the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and the Ming Tomb.

Shopping in Qingdao was the best part according to many Sailors. They frequented barter markets and souvenir shops throughout the city where they were able to purchase items made from silk, jade, jasmine and green tea.

Lt. Thomas Strenge, Curtis Wilbur’s weapons officer, who lived in Germany until he was 13 years old, enjoyed experiencing Qingdao’s German history and influence.

“Growing up in Germany, I learned a lot about German history. Qingdao was like one of those footnotes that you read at the bottom of a textbook. It was very interesting to see the architecture and German influence. Seeing a German church next to an East Asian pagoda made for an interesting contrast,†he said.

After the port visit and as Curtis Wilbur was departing, the ship and its escort conducted a communications and maneuvering exercise. The goal was to further enhance experience in navigational safety in the western Pacific, communication procedures and formation maneuvering.

“Exercises like this - military exercises between the United States and China - help to chart a peaceful course into the 21st century,†said Strenge, who was the coordinator for the exercise.

Lauer was delighted with the port visit to Qingdao, as well as the impression his Sailors made on the city.

“Overall, this was a phenomenal port visit," said Lauer. "Many of our Sailors had the opportunity to learn the rich culture and heritage of Qingdao throughout the visit, and I could not be any prouder of the crew than I am right now. They all exemplify what it means to be ambassadors and Sailors,†he said.

Curtis Wilbur is assigned to the Forward Deployed Naval Forces of Destroyer Squadron 15, the Kitty Hawk Strike Group and U.S. 7th Fleet. To learn more, please visit the Web site at
 

bd popeye

The Last Jedi
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Wait there's more!! While inport there was a sports competition between the Curtis Wilbur and some PLAN sailors. Guess who won?

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Curtis Wilbur’s Sports Teams Prevail in China
Story Number: NNS050924-07
Release Date: 9/24/2005 1:01:00 PM

By Lt. j.g. Jessica Gandy, USS Curtis Wilbur Public Affairs

USS CURTIS WILBUR, At Sea (NNS) -- Sports proved to be the common form of communication when USS Curtis Wilbur’s (DDG 54) basketball and tug-of-war teams competed against the teams of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) (Navy) during the ship’s historic port visit to Qingdao, People’s Republic of China, Sept. 13-16.

In the basketball game, Curtis Wilbur defeated the Chinese team with a score of 44-26.

“We dominated the first and second halves of the basketball game, had a lot of hustle and the players never let up,†said Lt.j.g. Anthony Bigalbal, who served as Curtis Wilbur’s sports coordinator for both events.

The game was played at the commercial Pier 8 on the PLA Navy’s Qingdao Naval Base. The crowd was mostly PLA navy personnel from the surrounding ships. The game was a friendly one, and big cheers erupted from the crowd when both the American and Chinese teams scored.

Operations Specialist 2nd Class Marlon Lush said he enjoyed being Curtis Wilbur’s basketball captain.

“Being able to play any sport in a different country is a privilege,†he said. “Who else do you know that gets to travel the world and play in different countries?"

According to Operations Specialist Seaman Michael Damon, the visit to China is one he will always treasure.

“To be playing basketball against the Chinese military is a feeling hard to describe. It is an experience I could not match if I tried," he said. "The Chinese were great hosts. It was obvious that everyone in attendance, Chinese and American, language barrier and all, enjoyed the morning activities.â€

In tug-of-war, Curtis Wilbur was again victorious, pulling in two wins in a tug-of-war competition against the PLA navy.

At the end of the sporting events, Bigalbal presented a command ballcap to the opposing team captain, and each Curtis Wilbur player gave a coin to their Chinese counterparts. The Chinese navy presented the Curtis Wilbur team with PLA Navy tie clips as a parting gift.

Before departing Quingdao, Cmdr. John T. Lauer III, Curtis Wilbur’s commanding officer, presented a command ballcap to the Chinese PLA navy basketball captain and thanked him for the great sportsmanship and for a great day of competition.

Curtis Wilbur operates out of Yokosuka, Japan, and is assigned to Destroyer Squadron 15. To learn more, please visit
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bd popeye

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BrotherofSnake said:
oops double post
The USS Chung Hoon DDG-93 is homeported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. It is probaly there having been comissioned last year on 18 September 2004.

The Curtis Wilbur is homeported in Yokosuka,Japan and is normally assigned to the USS Kitty Hawk battle group.
 

tphuang

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see, this is what we need. Not some stupid Chinese general threatening nuclear strikes or those neocons calling China America's enemy.
 

swimmerXC

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how does Qingdao have German influence?
for a port call like this does it need to cleared by the top brasses (president or general) of both sides before it can enter?
does it usually take a week for so before the clearance is given?
 

adeptitus

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swimmerXC said:
how does Qingdao have German influence?
for a port call like this does it need to cleared by the top brasses (president or general) of both sides before it can enter?
does it usually take a week for so before the clearance is given?

Qingdao/Tsingtao was a German colony & naval base from 1897 to 1914. The famous Tsingtao Brewery was established there by German settlers in 1903:
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Port visits are good, brings $$ to local economy.
 

bd popeye

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swimmerXC said:
how does Qingdao have German influence?
for a port call like this does it need to cleared by the top brasses (president or general) of both sides before it can enter?
does it usually take a week for so before the clearance is given?

As far as the port visit goes..It is my understanding that these Chinese port visits are directed by 7th Fleet and Commander of the US Pacific Fleet..With direction from Washington DC. I'm pretty sure that there is some sort of agrement before the ship enters port.

On a "normal" i.e. Japan ,Thailand. Austraila. port vist the request for port visits is made by the group CO and approved or redirected by his commander.
 
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