The rumors were true and Guam businesses couldn’t have a happier Christmas. The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson is back on Guam and its sailors are expected to spend liberty on the island.
A few weeks ago, it was mentioned during a Guam Visitors Bureau meeting that a major US Navy ship would be making a port call on Guam and that tourism-related businesses were crossing their fingers that it would push through.
The Guam Chamber of Commerce also quietly advised its members of the possibility of a US Navy ship port call and liberty for its sailors.
The US Navy, as is its wont, wouldn’t confirm nor deny for security reasons.
On Thursday morning, PNC received photos and videos of the USS Carl Vinson steaming into Guam.
The Chamber has confirmed that the carrier has arrived on island and will be spending Christmas on Guam. The USS Carl Vinson will be here until Dec. 28.
Some 5,000 sailors will be spending rest and recreation (R&R) on Guam, with two-thirds of the crew at a time going on liberty.
The USS Carl Vinson just came from the Philippine Sea where it joined naval forces from Australia, Canada, Germany, and Japan in a nine-day multilateral, multinational annual exercise in the Philippine Sea on Nov. 30.
The USS Carl Vinson was just here last November along with Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 1 units Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain (CG 57) and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Stockdale (DDG 106).
Commissioned in 1982, the USS Carl Vinson is led by Commanding Officer Capt. P. Scott Miller and is the flagship for CSG 1, based out of San Diego.
USS Carl Vinson has one of the highest overall vaccination rates in the Department of
Defense and during the carrier’s last visit here, only vaccinated Sailors in the strike group were authorized to enjoy liberty off-base.
In any case, all visiting military members always adhere to NBG and local Government of Guam COVID-19 mitigation measures, including mask-wearing and social distancing.
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