USS Theodore Roosevelt and its Danang Visit.

[Carl Robinson]

Re my earlier response during my walk to Lew Simons (who posted under his Digest link to VOH) enquiring about a WxPost comment that Trump 'claimed' some sailors had gone ashore in Danang during its recent visit and brought COVID-1 back aboard. .

The WSJ has been running heavy on this story, including a Weekend Editorial, and so I've double-checked back through my paywall.

In original story on USN Captain Crozier sacking on 2 April, there was this tid-bit on possible origin of the aircraft carrier's COVID-19 outbreak.   (So, it's 30 not 15  as I'd noted.) 

While officials don’t know how the virus came onto the ship, roughly 30 sailors had stayed at a hotel during a port visit in Vietnam earlier in March.

As I noted, I'd say these were most likely liason types before the ship's arrival in Danang for refuel and reprovisioning etc.   I believe all other sailors stayed aboard.  Also in contrast to earlier visits, I did not see any VN media stories of journlia

And in the very first WSJ report on the COVID-19 outbreak  on 24 March, there was this graf with reference to 'flight crew from a visiting aircraft' -- what I'd think would be a liaison aircraft.  

The sailors visited Danang, Vietnam, two weeks ago during a port visit and may have contracted the virus after coming in contact with someone who later tested positive, Navy officials said. Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly said the sailors also could have contracted the virus from another source such as flight crew from a visiting aircraft.

As I said earlier, I see this more of a Chain of Command issue and also military secret matter.   Why that powerfuil US carrier & its supporting fleet had just done a run through the South China Sea where China's just waiting to drop the Other Shoe any time.  Don't forget that area could pop at any moment, folks. 

And finally, that send-off from the carrier.  No social distancing there, that's for sure.

Best,

Carl

[Paul Mooney]

I saw two videos of a US Navy band (about four or five musicians and a singer) performing live music at what appear to be two public events which many Vietnamese and others attended. I’ll see if I can find the video, if anyone is interested. The band was quite good.

Paul Mooney | Freelance Journalist | Hanoi +84 376 196 411 | pjmo...@me.com | www.pjmooney.com | Twitter @pjmooney | Skype pjmooney

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[Paul Mooney]

It seems that there quite a bit of contact between sailors and Vietnamese off-ship. What surprises me most, is that this apparently took place in early March, when the virus was already quite well known and Vietnam was already taking measures to stop the virus for quite a few weeks already. Don’t know why either country condoned these exchanges at such a time. Paul

Stars and Stripes:

The BBC’s Vietnamese language online news site reported that the Roosevelt would stay in port five days. The strike group crew is expected to take part in community service projects, sports competitions and other events, according to 7th Fleet.

US Seventh Fleet Band (couldn’t copy photo from Facebook):

The BBC’s Vietnamese language online news site reported that the Roosevelt would stay in port five days. The strike group crew is expected to take part in community service projects, sports competitions and other events, according to 7th Fleet.

Navy Website (Click on the link to see a Navy officer surrounded by Vietnamese young people):

VIETNAM (March 6, 2020) Lt. j.g. Courtney Avon, a public affairs officer, poses for a photo with children at the Dorothea's Project Legacies Charity Center in Da Nang, Vietnam, during a community relations project organized by the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), March 6, 2020. Theodore Roosevelt and the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) are in Vietnam for a port visit during their scheduled deployment to the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Brandon Richardson/Released)200306-N-YQ383-1088

https://www.navy.mil/view_image.asp?id=307616

Sailors Contribute During Vietnam Port Call:

https://www.c7f.navy.mil/Media/News/Display/Article/2110844/sailors-contribute-during-vietnam-port-call/

Navy Web Site:

200305-N-YQ383-1090

 

DA NANG, Vietnam (March 5, 2020) Musician 2nd Class Emily Kershaw, from Bremerton, Wash., performs with artists from Trung Vuong Theater Da Nang at a reception welcoming the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) and the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) to Da Nang, Vietnam, March 5, 2020. Theodore Roosevelt and Bunker Hill are in Vietnam for a port visit during their scheduled deployment to the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Brandon Richardson/Released)

Paul Mooney | Freelance Journalist | Hanoi +84 376 196 411 | pjmo...@me.com | www.pjmooney.com | Twitter @pjmooney | Skype pjmooney

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[Carl Robinson]

Great research there, Paul.  Scary looking back.

But hadn't Vietnam gone back to zero at that stage-- a two or three week spell -- and then all hell broke loose with that socialite type who'd done Milan and infected the entire Business Class section on the Vietnam Airlines flight back to Hanoi?

Best,

Carl 

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[Paul Mooney]

Hi Carl,

I really don’t know remember what the situation was at the time, but certainly the discovery of the sick socialite woman pushed vigilance to a new high level. That said, we were nervous from the day we arrived on Feb. 25, when we saw how serious the government was taking the virus. I was already wondering if we shouldn’t just fly back to the US. And in any case, while Vietnam may not have had any or many cases at that point, the world was facing a certain crisis. 

But what is it they say about hindsight? :)

Paul

Paul Mooney | Freelance Journalist | Hanoi +84 376 196 411 | pjmo...@me.com | www.pjmooney.com | Twitter @pjmooney | Skype pjmooney

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<web_200305-N-YQ383-1090.JPG><web_200305-N-YQ383-1090.JPG>

[Carlyle Thayer]

March 06, 2020 | 19:52 (GMT+7) [Photos didn't take]

  

U.S. aircraft carrier strike group makes Vietnam port call

PANO (People's Army Newspaper Online) – A group of U.S. naval ships, including the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt and the guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill, made a port call in Da Nang city on March 5th.

 

Admiral John C. Aquilino, Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, joined the activities of the strike group during the port call.

The port call is one of the activities in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Vietnam-U.S. relationship (July 12, 1995 – 2020). On behalf of the leadership of Da Nang city, Vice Chairman of the city’s People’s Committee Ho Ky Minh hosted the welcoming ceremony and was joined by representatives of Naval Region 3, Military Region 5, the Border Guard Command of Da Nang, the Military Medical Department and the Department of Foreign Relations under the Ministry of National Defense, the Department of External Affairs of Da Nang city, and other relevant agencies. The U.S. side included the U.S. Ambassador, the U.S. Defense Attaché to Vietnam, and a number of officials from the U.S. Embassy in Vietnam.

At the welcome ceremony

After the welcoming ceremony, Vice Chairman Ho Ky Minh and Admiral John C. Aquilino co-chaired a press briefing introducing activities of the strike group in Da Nang.

Accordingly, during the time in Da Nang city, the Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet and commanding officers of the ships in the strike group will pay courtesy calls on the Chairman of the People’s Committee of Da Nang city and the Vietnam People’s Navy Command. The U.S. naval troops will join community activities such as art performances, friendly sport exchanges, and exchanges of professional expertise related to disasters, especially in dealing with the Covid-19 epidemic.

Delegates of the two sides in a joint photo

The port call is a practical contribution to boosting the bilateral relationship in line with the Vietnam-U.S. Comprehensive Partnership. It also demonstrates Vietnam’s ability to ensure logistic, technical, and medical services for foreign naval ships. Additionally, it helps strengthen the role and position of Vietnam in the region and the world and promotes its image in the international arena.

Translated by Huu Duong

 

https://en.qdnd.vn/military/intl-relations-and-cooperation/u-s-aircraft-carrier-strike-group-makes-vietnam-port-call-514567

Carlyle A. Thayer Emeritus Professor

UNSW Canberra

School of Humanities and Social Sciences

The University of New South Wales at the

Australian Defence Force Academy

Canberra, ACT 2610 Australia

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[Carl Robinson]

Yes, 2020 is going to be the Year of 20-20 Hindsight.

As there's no football, we can't say Monday Morning Quarterback.

Cheers, 

Carl 

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[Chuck Searcy]

There were a lot of U.S. sailors lined up for processing through Vietnamese immigration for shore leave on the day I was in Da Nang, Friday March 6th, for the USS Theodore Roosevelt visit.  A tour of the nuclear aircraft carrier that day had to be downgraded to a tour of the missile frigate that accompanied the carrier, because waves in the harbor were too high to allow safe shuttling of guests from the dock to the anchored carrier some distance out.  That afternoon long lines of U.S. sailors were moving quite efficiently through an obviously expedited checkpoint to begin their shore leave.  I'm not sure how many were allowed to go into town and to the beach, maybe half of the nearly 5,000-person crew I was told.  That day there was only vague awareness of the COVID-19 problem and no real concern because not a single case had been reported in Da Nang or in the south, the only reported exposure at that time was in the area just outside of Ha Noi.

That evening the shipboard gala reception that had been scheduled also had to be relocated to a hotel ballroom because of the rough seas.  There was no social distancing, that was not even a consideration at that time.  It was a lovely party, with ship's officers and crews and U.S. Embassy personnel on hand to host Vietnamese government officials and American citizens living and working in Viet Nam.  The Navy's musical combo was excellent, as always.  

I assume that Captain Brett Crozier was there, although I did not meet him that evening.  He has certainly achieved overnight notoriety, or fame, or infamy, depending on your point of view.  The issue of his dismissal as commander of the ship is not a closed case yet.  At least one congressional inquiry and one official Navy investigation have already been announced.  I'm sure everyone saw the video clips of the assembled Roosevelt crew members who saw the Captain off as he disembarked for the last time.  (And yes, there was no social distancing despite a large number of confirmed cases identified among crew members of the Roosevelt.)

Chuck    

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[Carl Robinson]

Thank you for that on-scener from Danang, Chuck.  Fascinating, like something out of Shanghai in 1938.   With that many ashore, who knows where the infections started.

Ah, the good old days when one's biggest worries were Cholera and the Clap.

Best,

Carl 

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