USS George Washington Sailors Visit Wreckage of ROK Ship Cheonan
By MC3 Danielle A. Brandt, USS George Washington Public Affairs



Lt. Cmdr. Severn Stephens, assigned to CTF 70, embarked aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73), looks at the damage to the Republic of Korea corvette Cheonan (PCC-772) at Pyeongtaek naval base July 22, during a visit to the wreckage as part of the carrier’s four-day port visit to Busan, Republic of Korea.

Sailors from USS George Washington (CVN 73) (GW) and Carrier Air Wing 5 visited the wreckage of the Republic of Korea ship Cheonan July 22 as part of the ship’s four-day port visit to Busan.

The GW Sailors, who took part, looked at schematics and evidence of damage the ship received when it sank March 26, killing 46 of the ship’s 104-man crew.

“This was an excellent opportunity for our continued relationship with Korea and a way to strengthen our bonds of alliance,” said GW Executive Officer Capt. Daniel C. Grieco.

The GW crew flew from Busan to the wreck site in Pyeongtaek via a U.S. Army helicopter. The one-hour flight gave them an opportunity to not only witness the destroyed ship, but also a chance to see much of the southern peninsula from the air.

“This is an absolutely amazing country,” said Cmdr. John Lund, GW engineering officer. “It’s not just the terrain that’s beautiful; it’s how they laid out their infrastructure, that was amazing to see.” The combined alliance maritime and air readiness exercise “Invincible Spirit” involving the Republic of Korea and the United States took place in the seas east of the Korean peninsula July 25-28.

This was a first in a series of joint military exercises that will occur over the coming months in the Sea of Japan and Yellow Sea. GW is the Navy’s only permanently forward-deployed nuclear aircraft carrier, which operates from Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY) in Yokosuka, Japan. It is currently on its summer patrol ensuring security and stability in the Western Pacific.