USS Patriot Visits Otaru, Japan

Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Kelsey Adams | 160128-N-RM689-091 SOUTH CHINA SEA (January 28, 2016)- Culinary Specialist 1st Class Eleazar Sison (wearing the blue helmet), assigned to amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48), stands with members of the Royal Thailand Navy aboard landing craft utility (LCU) 1633 as it leaves Ashland to pick up Marine vehicles. Ashland is assigned to the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group and is en route to participate in Cobra Gold, a Thai-U.S. co-sponsored multinational joint exercise designed to advance regional security by exercising a robust multinational force from nations sharing common goals and security commitments in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Kelsey L. Adams/Released)  

OTARU, HOKKAIDO, JAPAN

02.04.2016

Story by Senior Chief Petty Officer Ryan Delcore 

Naval Air Facility Misawa

OTARU, Japan - USS Patriot (MCM 7) pulled into Otaru, Japan, Feb. 4, for a scheduled port visit.

The ship’s crew will be given the opportunity to experience the word-famous Sapporo Snow Festival and Otaru’s Snow Light Path Festival during the visit.

“This is the Patriot’s first visit to Otaru and the crew and I are excited to interact with the community,” said Lt. Cmdr. Emily Royse, commanding officer of the USS Patriot.

Sapporo is a popular winter destination for Japanese citizens and other people from around the world.

“Our crew looks forward to spending some time off in Otaru and the surrounding areas, seeing the beautiful Snow Light Path Festival as well as the snow festival in Sapporo, and, of course, enjoying the fantastic cuisine,” said Royse.

Patriot is a mine countermeasures ship forward-deployed to Sasebo, Japan. Patriot serves under Task Force 76, which serves as the U.S. 7th Fleet's mine countermeasures arm in forward-deployed operations.

• Date Taken: 02.04.2016
• Date Posted: 02.04.2016 05:51
• Story ID: 187872
• Location: OTARU, HOKKAIDO, JP