Fresh from battle, R&R now on the radar for US sailors

The Australian ^ | 27th April 2015 | Andrew Burrell

[naturalman1975]

The commanding officer of the USS Carl Vinson says Islamic State extremists began as an invad­ing force and ended as an enemy in retreat during the aircraft carrier’s recent six-month deployment to the Middle East.

Speaking 250km off Perth on board the massive American vessel — which carries 55 planes, 20 choppers and more than 5000 crew who went ashore at Fremantle yesterday afternoon — Captain Karl Thomas proclaimed the airstrikes over Syria and Iraq a success.

.....

"I think why our sailors love to come to Australia so much is that the countries are so similar,” he said. “We have the same ideals, the same types of government, we have the same beliefs."

.....

After stopping at Fremantle, the Carl Vinson is scheduled to head to its home base of San Diego, in California, for maintenance, but Captain Thomas said the crew were prepared to be called anywhere, at any time.

“We endeavour to stay proficient, we don’t know what’s going to happen around the world and we’re always on call,” the captain said. “Even though we’re down here enjoying our time in Fremantle and Perth, the intention is to head home. But things are never settled in the world and we’ll see what happens.”

[naturalman1975]

"I think why our sailors love to come to Australia so much is that the countries are so similar,” he said. “We have the same ideals, the same types of government, we have the same beliefs."

And there's beer...

[Perdogg]

..and the shielas who wait for them at the port...at least, they used to.

[phormer phrog phlyer]

I never did westpacs, guys who did would tell amazing stories about liberty in Australia.

[SandRat]

Good O You Mate.

[naturalman1975]

(wives and parents can get upset if you mention the women - and to be fair, only some of the sailors are out for that... nobody seems to get overly upset about the beer though).

All kidding aside, McDonald’s does a good trade as well - anywhere you can get the things you can’t get on ship and that you might have been craving for months.

[KC_Lion]

Ping!

[Jacquerie]

A shipmate on the Saratoga told me he was taken aback doing liberty in Australia. In the late 70s he was on the Midway, and a young lovely shook his hand and thanked him for taking on the Japs at the Battle of the Coral Sea.

[RedMDer]

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[Gay State Conservative]

A message to our Sailors...you are ambassadors of peace and friendship when on liberty particularly when you're the guests of our valued allies.Remember,good clean fun is the order of the day!

[Gay State Conservative]

A shipmate on the Saratoga told me he was taken aback doing liberty in Australia. In the late 70s he was on the Midway, and a young lovely shook his hand and thanked him for taking on the Japs at the Battle of the Coral Sea.

IIRC I've read that our 1st Marine Division adopted "Waltzing Matilda" as their battle hymn in honor of the friendship and support that Aussies offered them during WW2.It would seem that the US Navy and the Australian people go way back together.

[Delta 21]

NOW ! Liberty, Liberty, Liberty !

Liberty is hereby granted to all authorized personnel.

All personnel are reminded. It is better to see the corpsman before you depart, rather than 2 days after we get back underway.

NOW, Liberty !

[Hawthorn]

>> good clean fun is the order of the day <<

Oh, c’mon. Shame on you. Sailors never would dream of having any other kind of fun.

[Gay State Conservative]

Oh, c’mon. Shame on you. Sailors never would dream of having any other kind of fun.

I'm an old Army guy myself and,therefore,have had little contact with Sailors (except for my late brother-in-law).But I've heard stories from time to time... ;-)