On May 16, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) departed Yokosuka, Japan, marking the end of its nine-year tenure as the U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier. The transit out of Yokosuka marks the beginning of the ship’s final Indo-Pacific patrol in the lead-up to the vessel’s transition to Bremerton, Washington, later in the year.
U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel and his wife and Japanese government and business leaders bid farewell. Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, bid adieu to Ronald Reagan. Emanuel underscored the commitment and service of the crew members of the ship: “To the sailors and aviators of the USS Ronald Reagan, who dedicate their lives in the protection and defense of the freedoms that we enjoy today, it is you and your fellow service members who make up America’s true 1 percent.”
Sailing with Ronald Reagan on her final patrol are the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Robert Smalls (CG 62) and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Howard (DDG 83). Rear Adm. Greg Newkirk, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 5 commander, thanked the people of Japan and the city of Yokosuka, saying the U.S. Navy-JMSDF relationship is one to be well-remembered.
The departure of Ronald Reagan seems way beyond logistics; it embodies years of service and collaboration. Daryle Cardone, commanding officer of the Ronald Reagan, said the ship sailed with the support of the law of the international sea and the free, open Indo-Pacific. He said that support is applied right beside the allies in the Great White North.
Since its commissioning, Ronald Reagan has participated in some imposing operations worldwide. In 2011, following the earthquake and tsunamis, the ship took part in the humanitarian Operation Tomodachi. Again, in 2021, the carrier was forward-deployed to the Middle East, supporting Operation Allies Refuge and ensuring the safe evacuation of more than 7,000 U.S. citizens and evacuees from Afghanistan.
As Ronald Reagan makes its final transit through Sagami Bay, the crew, manning the decks and dressed in their summer whites, stand as a testament to the enduring partnership between the U.S. and Japan. The ship is set to turn over its forward-deployed role to USS George Washington (CVN 73), before heading to Bremerton for maintenance at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.
The legacy of service and cooperative nature of Ronald Reagan will always live on, Capt. Cardone said he is confident in the lasting relationships that were built during the ship’s time in Japan. “While the crew and I are sad to bid Japan farewell, Ronald Reagan’s strong relationships with the JMSDF and rich history with the Japanese people assure me that we shall see each other again,” he said.
As the largest forward-deployed numbered fleet in the U.S. Navy, CSG 5 remains committed to operating with allies and partners in routine and crises to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific.