To the Source:
On behalf of the officers and crew of USS Theodore Roosevelt I would like to say that our recent visit to St. Thomas was exceptional. The friendliness of the population and the great support of all government agencies made this visit a most enjoyable one.
As you can imagine, the logistics and security needs of bringing 5,000 sailors to the island can be immense. The local government, business owners and police were supportive from day one, and with advance coordination with members of our crew it paved the way for a smooth, trouble-free visit.
I would hope that future crews of USS Theodore Roosevelt and other ships of the U.S. Navy have the opportunity to experience the hospitality that we did. I cannot speculate on this ship's schedule beyond a few months; however, we would enjoy another visit if we get the opportunity.
The U.S. Virgin Islands is a special place to those who visit and get to know the people. The three days that we were in this American paradise were filled with good times, learning and fellowship.
Our crew members also had the opportunity to repay some of the hospitality and show their goodwill through a number of community relations programs that we were able to take part in. This outreach by our young men and women is an important part of our training our sailors to be good citizens and neighbors.
The crew had a wonderful time. I would like to thank all the people of St. Thomas for their wonderful support of our sailors. Your friendliness did not go unnoticed. Our young men and women really appreciated the way they were treated, and it means a lot to every one of us to see your support.
Capt. Richard J. O'Hanlon, U.S. Navy
Commanding Officer
USS Theodore Roosevelt
