The San Diego-based aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson arrived in Manila for a routine port visit during its deployment to the western Pacific that began in January.
More than 5,500 sailors from the Vinson and accompanying destroyer USS Michael Murphy will visit local attractions and participate in community service projects while in the Philippine capital this weekend.
“We are just very thankful for the support we have from the Philippine government and the Philippine people,” said Rear Adm. John Fuller. “We have a longstanding relationship and we want to continue to build on that.”
The Vinson hosted top Philippine government and military officials before arriving. Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Secretary Martin Andanar and others flew aboard the carrier with U.S. Ambassador Sung Kim.
The delegation ate lunch with strike group leadership, toured the hangar bay, and observed flight operations on the flight deck prior to boarding a C-2A Greyhound for the return to Manila.
The strike group includes the Carl Vinson, Carrier Air Wing 2, the guided-missile destroyers Murphy and USS Wayne E. Meyer, and the guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain.
The nuclear-power Vinson is the carrier from which terrorist Osama bin Laden was buried at sea after his capture by Navy SEALs.
