USS Vandegrift Concludes Historic Port Visit to Vietnam

USS Vandegrift Concludes Historic Port Visit to Vietnam

(EXCERPT) Story Number: NNS031126-16 Release Date: 11/27/2003 1:47:00
PM, by Lt. Cmdr. J.D. Gordon, U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam (NNS) -- After completing an historic port
visit to Vietnam Nov. 22, the guided-missile frigate USS Vandegrift
(FFG 48) departed with a successful diplomatic achievement in its
logbook.

The major event in U.S. and Vietnam relations marked the first time a
U.S. Navy ship has visited the country in 30 years.

While in port, the ship hosted hundreds of Vietnamese military,
political and foreign business leaders, as well as international
diplomatic corps officials for tours and an evening reception.

Ambassador Raymond F. Burghardt accompanied the ship for a four-hour
transit from Vung Tao at the entrance of the Saigon River to downtown,
and remained aboard for a media availability with Cmdr. Richard
Rogers, Vandegrift’s commanding officer. International media coverage,
including a live CNN broadcast, gave the world a positive glimpse of
the Navy’s continuing diplomatic role in Vietnam.

Rogers, a Moscow, Idaho native, remarked that he was deeply honored to
command the first ship to visit Vietnam in 30 years.

“Our Vietnamese h...

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---------------------------
Otis Willie
Associate Librarian
The American War Library
http://www.americanwarlibrary.com