CVN 73 - George Washington in Manila

Exchanged Thanksgiving day wishes with my mother this morning. My brother lives in the Philippines and relayed that the George Washington was been anchored in the bay as part of a "professional exchange/goodwill visit" after cruising through the islands in the China/Japan dispute.

I'm waiting for word from him as to whether he took the public tour of the Washington and share some photos. From what I heard the ship is still there but it was supposed to leave at the end of October but I'm led to believe from him that as of 22 November it was still lurking in the bay.

If so, that seems to be disturbing in that it's within easy
distance of the Japan/China as well as able to get to the middle east pretty quick as well.


Besides being amazed at how big the thing is, my brother told me that when the Navy visits it's like a holiday there because of WWII and how the citizens still are grateful to the U.S. - MacArthur thing and all.

Not to mention on the way in they rescued some fisherman who were in peril at sea.

"MANILA, Philippines --- A guided missile destroyer of the United States’ George Washington carrier strike group rescued five Filipino fishermen found drifting off Lubang Island in Mindoro early yesterday morning.

According to Tina Malone, the US Embassy information officer, the fishermen were rescued around 1 a.m. by the Arleigh Burke-class USS McCampbell (DDG 85), one of the ships that accompanied the US Navy’s only continuously forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) now anchored in Manila Bay."

So now I'm wonder if anyone here is there and can explain why we don't have a base there any longer but are still welcome. AND whether or not the Washington is still there in as my brother is pretty much useless as far as relaying accurate information.

[link to www.mb.com.ph]

[link to navaltoday.com]