Crew of US Navy ships spruce up Sugar King

More than 40 crewmembers of the USS Mustin and USS Olympia spent a half of the day cleaning, clearing, and trimming foliage at the Sugar King Estate in Garapan yesterday.

The activity was part of the visiting U.S. sailors’ Community Relations project.

At the end of the civic activity, Saipan Mayor Juan B. Tudela awarded plaques of appreciation to USS Mustin Captain Mike Ford and USS Olympia Commander Paul Marconi. He also gave plaques to the leaders of the crewmembers who led the activity.

Tudela said it turned out to be another wonderful event, which is always the case every time U.S. Navy ships visit Saipan.

Captain Ford said his men always look forward to civic activities like the one they did yesterday. “Our sailors love to participate in community relations projects,” he said. “This was an opportunity for us to help Saipan, which has been very receptive.”

Commander Marconi was equally grateful for the reception. He said this was his second visit to Saipan.

“This [Saipan] has always been the No. 1 port for the crew,” he said. USS Olympia’s homeport is in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

After a half-day of trimming and island-style barbecue party at the Sugar King Estate, the mayor and his staff were invited for a brief tour inside the destroyer USS Mustin and the submarine USS Olympia.

Captain Ford showed the mayor and his staff the ship’s cozy mess hall and the captain’s deck, where the mayor tested his sailing skills by grabbing the wheel.

Though the ship is only a year and a half old, Captain Ford said they are now gearing up for a mission.

Captain Ford also took the mayor to the upper deck, where helicopters are maintained. He shared that his ship has a gold-painted anchor because it was named the best-maintained and most-efficient ship in the U.S. Navy recently. This is USS Mustin’s first trip from its homeport in San Diego.

Tudela and his staff were also welcomed by Captain Marconi for a brief tour inside the USS Olympia. He said the submarine was built with rubber material all around its body to avoid sonar detection.

In the tour, Captain Marconi demonstrated how the periscope is used. He also escorted the mayor and his staff to the ammunition room, where torpedoes and tomahawk missiles are stationed. He then took the group to the conference room for refreshments prepared by his crew.

USS Mustin and USS Olympia are set to leave the island tomorrow morning. (Marconi Calindas)