U.S. aircraft carrier George Washington leaves for Yokosuka

Friday 22nd August, 04:27 PM JST

SAN DIEGO —

The U.S. aircraft carrier George Washington left San Diego on Thursday for the Japanese city of Yokosuka after finishing repairs of damage caused by a fire which broke out on the vessel in May. The carrier is expected to arrive in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, south of Tokyo, in late September as the first U.S. nuclear-powered carrier to use a Japanese city as its homeport. The 102,000-ton vessel’s deployment comes amid growing concerns among Yokosuka residents about its safety.

The U.S. Navy has announced that the fire was caused by unauthorized smoking by the crew while the carrier was sailing in the Pacific off South America. Capt. David Dykhoff was relieved of command of the vessel. Apart from the fire, two sailors from the carrier have been arrested in connection with a murder case in a San Diego suburb. The deployment of the George Washington was initially scheduled for this month but was delayed while the damage from the fire was repaired.

Kyodo

Latest 15 of 22 Total Comments Show All

kjunluc2 at 02:31 AM JST - 23rd August

****What's the big deal? Carriers have been pulling in and out for 60 some years. I've seen two carriers and their escorts in Yoko at the same time. When the crew were going ashore in uniform Honcho was a sea of white hats.

Kimigano, if you don't like it write your bleedin' MPs. Or, you could take the Mishima road out.

If it were up to me I would pull all our military out, close the embassy and let Japan and the Koreas, and others, settle some old grievances.
Taka313 at 02:38 AM JST - 23rd August

Sushi, Me and the Taka family are headed for to a place where the music and the grass is blue, the Olympians are recognized for their talent more than their nationality and the money is plentiful.

Taka
kjunluc2 at 02:43 AM JST - 23rd August

****When reporting for duty in Yoko or ships homeported there you go through an orientation that often borders on the ridiculous. We had a chickenshit XO on the Terrel County who wouldn't allow liberty until he had lectured you. Had a Japanese American aboard for 3 weeks without liberty because he hadn't yet been lectured.

I reported aboard the Ajax with a couple other guys. We had to stand and listen to a GM1 telling us you're not supposed to rob cab drivers and other silly crap. Hell,I had spent time in Japan before he was born.

You can lecture till Hell freezes over and you will not stop the very small percent of criminals and fools from doing what they do.
kjunluc2 at 05:55 AM JST - 23rd August

****Taka, I thought you were a lifer there. Sounds like you're headed for 'tucky.

No protests against carriers there.
haytkayokomiya at 09:21 AM JST - 23rd August

I wonder if Yokosuka prison has enough vacancy?
BlackTieAffair at 09:59 AM JST - 23rd August

Discipline is a function of command. Juniors as well as seniors must be made responsible for and be cognizant of their responsibility. Commanders can not delegate or reassign their own responsibility. A well disciplined organization is one whose members work with enthusiasm, willingness, and zest as individuals and as a group to fulfill the mission of the organization with expectation of success. The neutering of the Navy has allowed misguided youth and delinquents to run rampant in Yokosuka. I highly doubt that any balls will appear before the prison barge of freedom CVN 73 arrives on the horizon. Good luck to us all and make sure you add the emergency services number to your speed dial.
kjunluc2 at 10:37 AM JST - 23rd August

****Lock up you daughters and their panty drawers! Put bars in front of your businesses! Get off the streets at dusk! The end may be near. She's probably making 55 knots right now. Don't wait! Be prepared! The dookey is about to hit the sempuki.
Alphaape at 11:38 AM JST - 23rd August

mindovermatter:

An to think...I'm betting, these guys were gang-bangers with one of those San Diego gangs, and I'm sure they passed their overseas screenings with flying colors...

Actually if you read the newpaper reports, one was from the GW, the other was from a helicopter squadron stationed there at North Island in San Diego. From what I have read, they got into arguments probably with some "local youths" in National City, my guess at the infamous "Trophy Lounge" for those who know that spot. Still that is no excuse to shoot and kill someone, but that does not mean that the USN failed in their overseas screening process. For all we know, it could have been the guy stationed there in San Diego, since from the report, it was a car that had a military sticker on it (he being on the GW and on his way to Japan would not have a car in San Diego) and the car owners gun.

They have all ready started with curtailing liberty for the GW crew in San Diego and imposing the same restrictions on junior sailors and all the crew the same as those that are in effect here in Japan. So think about it, guys can't even be off the ship after midnight, in the USA and can't drink after 1 am on weekends (that probably is not too bad since most bars have to close in San Diego by 2 am anyway). So the crew is well familiar with what is expected of them when they reach Japan next month.
Taka313 at 02:09 PM JST - 23rd August

Luc, I always assumed I was a lifer here myself. But...when the opportunity of a lifetime comes knocking...you have to do what you have to do.

USN, I doubt the "family values" voters would approve of an old westpac Sailor like myself.

Alpha, I was told that the AOB/ICR course for the GW Sailors was held in their hanger bay and that it was, by and large, gundecked. This came from someone who was one of the presenters. Not a good sign, in my opinion. Like I said earlier, having witnessed what liberty was like the first night out for the Indy and KHK when they first reported, I suspect a public affairs nightmare in the making. Few things in this world would make me happier than to be proven wrong in this regard, but I suspect that you, USNinJapan and Sailwind will have your work cut out for you as mentors and examples of how Navy folk should act while living in Japan. I wish you all the best of luck.

Taka
Alphaape at 02:14 PM JST - 23rd August

Taka313, if all goes well for me, I may be in "greener pastures" with a 360 degree beachfront view and leis given to you when you leave the airport before they get here.

But, talking to one of the bar owners in the Honch, he has all ready stated that he will be selective in who he lets in for the first couple of months, until he gets to know "who's who in the zoo." As far as the first night of liberty, I have all ready seen some of the old school "regulars" starting to make their way back to Yokosuka to reinvent themselves.

It should be a wild couple of nights when they get here. And I am sure that there will be plenty of news cameras out in the honch to record everything.
Alphaape at 05:48 PM JST - 23rd August

Latest front page news from Stars & Stripes, the GW sailor was released, he only witnessed the shooting (riding in the car) while a San Diego based sailor did the shooting. I am sure that the reason for front page newstory about an event that happened in San Diego was so that the fears of the Japan public could be calmed. Good attempt at spin from USN on this.

I am sure when the GW gets closer we will see more news stories on her trek to Yokosuka.
sailwind at 06:20 PM JST - 23rd August

Taka, Alpha, USN, kjun and Vor (I know he's out there, though hasn't dropped by on the thread yet).

First of we are going to have the same problem that we always do. It's just human nature your always going to have that few that no matter what you do just don't, "Get it". Just human nature and there are those who expect us in the military to mold character into that few that never had it to begin with, and impossible task. And we are always going to have that vocal anti-military crowd that posts here and borders on total insanity when it comes to any sort of reasonable position when it involves anybody involved in the Military. The ones that demand human perfection in imperfect human beings and hide behind that in all their debates. Reasonable people who would never advocate locking up an entire civilian community because of the individual actions of few, yet have no compunction in demanding that when it comes to taking away what few rights Military people have left when they joined. Just how it is and Taka is right isn't going to change in the future. Though Taka we'll be okay. We always have each others back on this thread and thats what being a Shipmate past and present is all about anyway.

However.......Most if damn near not all Sailors on the G.W are just like these other Carrier Sailors.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deYOGf1gnqk

I watch this and I think to myself overall Yokosuka is going to be fine. These are just your typical Sailors and they are "On The Way" just like the song says in the video. Actually watching it

Enjoy the video and I hope those that have never been in the Navy might get a better idea of what sailing on a carrier is really like and the crew who man her are all about.
Alphaape at 06:44 PM JST - 23rd August

Good post sailwind! BZ!
USNinJapan2 at 08:01 PM JST - 23rd August

Dammit Sailwind! Now I'm feeling guilty for wishing I'd joined the Air Force... : P
Taka313 at 10:13 PM JST - 23rd August

USN,

Now I'm feeling guilty for wishing I'd joined the Air Force... : P

As you should! ;-)

Nice post Sail. Although, I have to admit, I may not have the time nor energy to post here once I get to my new digs. Taka's got his work cut out for him.

Of course, you are right about the GW's Sailors by and large being pretty much so normal people. However, the expectations being put on our military are, in my opinion, not. When the Indy and KHK came here, the internet was largely unheard of and news was not as easily disseminated. Now, everything they do will be scrutinized.
Combine that with the heightened sensitivities due to the 3 murders committed here, the GW crew has a real uphill battle on their hands, PR wise. I wish you and them all the luck in the world in making the transition a successful one but as I stated before, I think the chance of success is very slim.

Taka