US Navy aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson got underway from Manila on February 20, completing a four-day visit to the Philippines.
More than 5,500 sailors from aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) and guided-missile destroyer USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) arrived February 16 to visit local attractions and participate in community service projects.
Crew members assisted residents of Quezon City by helping clear debris at a site for low-income housing.
“Community service projects like these help build relationships,” said Cmdr. Jamie Stall-Ryan, Carl Vinson’s lead chaplain. “It shows that Sailors are not just in town to have fun. We’re here to partner with the Philippine people and support them.”
The strike group will continue operating in the Indo-Pacific region as part of a regularly scheduled deployment focused on working with partners and allies, promoting freedom of the seas, and enhancing regional security.
The strike group includes Carl Vinson, Carrier Air Wing 2, USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108) and Michael Murphy of Destroyer Squadron 1, and guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain (CG 57).