USS George Washington in PH for rescue, relief operations

by Ron B. Lopez
November 15, 2013 (updated)

The USS George Washington aircraft carrier has arrived in the Philippines Thursday afternoon, international media agency CBS news tweeted.
The United States sent the aircraft carrier to assist the Philippine government in the relief and rescue operations in areas heavily affected by super typhoon Yolanda.
According to the US Navy website, the aircraft carrier is carrying 5,000 sailors and more than 80 aircraft, which came from Hong Kong for a port visit. Embarked on board USS George Washington, is Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5), it added.
However, it is still unclear if other US carriers are already in the Philippine coast. US Navy said that the aircraft will be accompanied by cruisers USS Antietam (CG 54) and USS Cowpens (CG 63), and the destroyer USS Mustin (DDG 89), together with supply ship USNS Charles Drew (T-AKE-10) and USS Lassen (DDG 82).
“CVW-5 is a collection of aircraft designed to perform various functions including disaster relief and includes the “Golden Falcons” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 12 flying the MH-60S Seahawk; and the “Saberhawks” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 77 flying the MH-60R Seahawk,” US Navy said.
The Pentagon said that it has massive amounts of water and food, aside from the $20 million of immediate aid from the US government.
The US has also ordered the hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) to be ready to support the ongoing disaster relief efforts in the country.

Junelet

Thank you USA.
johnny wang

The philiphinoes and its government should learn from all the past experiences regarding typhoons , earthquakes and such disasters and learn to help itself. They cannot expect the world to help and rush to their aid everytime such things happen. The world countries have more important and other things to deal with and don’t want to be caught up in the corruption and stealing that is going on in the Philippines
Boy_Paco

Now it is real that in times of trouble, a US aircraft carrier can be mobilize in less than a week and this is a big morale booster. I hope that the taste and the feel of an aircraft carrier in our seas will make our navy dream of owning one and we can be proud of the Philippines.
denzel

Thanks God Napoles is in prison… how excruciating would it be if she had been able to
lay her dirty hands on the donations that were coming in… Now Filipino’s let
us focus real hard on the fight for corruption [we know who they are]… we could have gotten better service in terms of machineries to better aide us in worst of times… it’s not
about the politicians anymore it’s about us… taking ownership.
Lord_patawad

tenk yu, tenk yu, ang babait ninyo, tenk yu!
BGY

nasaan na ung mga nagpoprotesta dyan tungkol sa U.S. may masasabi pa ba kayo nagyong tinutulungan nila tayo mga put— ina nyo!!!!