Sarah Wayne Callies from “The Walking Dead” visits Yokosuka
Story and photo by Joe Schmitt, CFAY Public Affairs


Sarah Wayne Callies famous for her roles in the television shows “Prison Break” and the “The Walking Dead” talks with YN2 Chris Lassiter who watched her show while underway and got to meet her in Yokosuka’s Navy Exchange Dec. 13. The autographs signing was part of a tour of Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka where she met with Sailors and community members, fans of her shows, to say ‘thank you’ and talk to service members.

Sarah Wayne Callies, famous for her roles in the television shows “Prison Break” and the “The Walking Dead”, visited Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY) Dec. 13. The tour was short notice and came together in just under a week of coordination between CFAY and Fox Japan who was sponsoring Callies Japan visit around the premier of “The Walking Dead” on Japanese TV.

“I was here in Tokyo promoting ‘The Walking Dead’ and one of the guys who had me out suggested that maybe next time I was in town I should come out to the Navy base. I said, well, how about this time? So, I’m here to say ‘Happy holidays and thank you for your service,” said Callies.

The tour started with a visit to the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73). Callies, who was traveling with her husband and representatives from Fox Japan, got a tour of the ship from the hangar bay to the bridge. Lt. Cmdr. Dave Hecht, George Washington’s public affairs officer, explained how the ship worked and its purpose in the region.

Before leaving the ship Callies met with Sailors, fans of her shows, on the mess decks to sign autographs and talk to the service members.

“It was amazing, it was like being on a floating city,” said Callies. “I was incredibly struck by the grace and kindness and generosity of everybody on board.” She explained that while she grew up on Hawaii near a large U.S. Navy base, she did not have too much experience talking to Sailors. “Apart from that, this is my first time hanging out with the Navy like this. My husband comes from a Navy family, he was born in a Navy hospital. It means a lot to me to be able to say ‘thank you’ in person.”

After the tour of the ship, Callies spent some time at the Navy Exchange (NEX) to sign autographs and meet service and community members.

Some of the attendees brought DVD’s, Blu-ray discs, or photos printed out from home and waited in line to meet Callies who, some were saying, is their favorite character from the show. “While underway, our whole berthing got together and watched all of ‘Prison Break’, twice, all four seasons,” said Yeoman 2nd Class Chris Lassiter, a USS Cowpens (CG 63) Sailor at the event with his wife. “It became a huge thing for us. I’ve got friends who are on duty, on watch back at the ship, I brought some photos for them to get signed.”

Callies left CFAY after getting to know the community at the NEX. For those who missed her, you can catch her on season two and season three of “The Walking Dead” airing in the states or on season one that will soon air in Japan. Before she left, Callies had one last thing to say.

“I’d like to wish you happy holidays and thank you for your service,” Callies added. “Especially at this time of the year, it’s got to be real hard to be away from your families, but all of us back home are real grateful for all you all are doing.”