Bonhomme Richard Hosts Family Day Cruise For Amphibious Force Seventh Fleet Families

OKINAWA, Japan (NNS) -- Sailors, Marines and their families from Amphibious Force Seventh Fleet received a firsthand look Navy life during a friends and family day cruise hosted by USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), March 25.

More than 80 eager friends and family members met the ship at White Beach Naval Facility in Okinawa prior to getting underway.

The four-hour cruise was an excellent opportunity for Amphibious Force Seventh Fleet Sailors and Marines to showcase to their families how a ship operates at sea and what Sailors do while serving on sea duty.

"This was a once in a lifetime opportunity for friends and family of our Sailors and Marines," said Rear Adm. Jeffrey A. Harley, Commander, Amphibious Force Seventh Fleet "It gives us a chance to show our loved ones what we do while out to sea."

Guests met their sponsors in the hangar and were given tours of the ship and treated to static displays on the flight deck, a meal on the mess decks and a Landing Craft, Air Cushioned (LCAC) demonstration.

After the families got a taste of Navy life at sea, they were taken down to the well deck where they disembarked and got the unique opportunity to ride an LCAC back to White Beach.

Friends and family day cruises afford Sailors the opportunity to share their accomplishments at sea and allow their family members the chance to experience Navy life for a day.

Bonhomme Richard ARG comprised of amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), and amphibious dock landing ships USS Germantown (LSD 42) and USS Tortuga (LSD 46) is operating in the 7th Fleet area of operations and reports to Commander, Amphibious Forces 7th Fleet, Rear Adm. Jeffrey A. Harley, headquartered in White Beach, Okinawa, Japan.

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For more news from Commander, Amphibious Force, U.S. 7th Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/local/ctf76/.