By Ensign Gee Mi Jorde
KOTA KINABALU, Malaysia – The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville (CG 62) arrived in Sepangar Bay Naval Base March 16.
The crew members spent five days in port and participated in a community relations (COMREL) event, provided ship tours to the community and interacted with members of the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN).
Upon arrival the ship and crew were greeted with a dance performance by native Sumazau and Nyajat dancers. Further cultural exchanges were made with soccer and volleyball tournaments between Chancellorsville and RMN crew members. Chancellorsville’s chaplain, Lt. Brandt Peacock, led a group of 30 crew members to co-host a birthday party with members of the RMC for children of the local Bukit Harapan orphanage.
Twenty of Chancellorsville’s officers attended a reception hosted by the RMN, strengthening the relationship between the U.S. Navy and her partnership with the RMN for future naval operations.
Capt. Curt A. Renshaw, commanding officer of Chancellorsville, said the ship’s visit was crucial in maintaining the present relationship between both navies and enabling a dialogue on future joint operations.
Chancellorsville is on patrol in the 7th Fleet area of operations in support of security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific.