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1 5th Birthday equally complex facilities. The Blue Ridi;c uses a maze of computers and communications equipment to accomplish her task. The Blue Ricigeis capable of commanding and coordinating all aspects of an amphibious assault landing, comparable in scale to a major World War II operation. This floating command post is able to coordinate troop landings, control air and gunfire support, offer task force protection and disseminate logistical data simultaneously. The forest of antennas which sprouts from her main deck and superstructure give an indication of the Flagship ' s extensive communications network. Part of this network includes satellite telecommunications. The Blue Ridge is the first ship designed from the keel up for command and coordination of amphibious operations exclusively. Listed here are a few of the more dramatic events in her short life: April 29-30, 1975 Participated in Operation Frequent Wind, the emergency evacuation of Saigon, Republic of Vietnam. In this effort the Blue /?/ < (?£ ' helped to evacuate nearly 7,000 United States citizens, Vietnamese refugees and third-country nationals. October 6, 1980 Rescued 92 Vietnamese refugees in the South China Sea. May 15, 1984 Rescued 35 Vietnamese refugees 350 miles northeast of Cam Rahn Bay. Debarked them in Hong Kong. October 3, 1984 Assisted 17 Vietnamese refugees 90 miles off the west coast of Malaysia. The refugees were in very good condition, their boat seaworthy; they requested only food, water and a navigational chart. April 3-5, 1985 Conducted surveillance operations of the eight-ship Soviet task force steaming in the North Philippine Sea. Leading the Russian fiotilla was the " Kiev " class CVHG Novorossiysk. May 16, 1985 Rescued 13 Vietnamese refugees 1 10 miles southeast of Vietnam. Debarked them in Okinawa, Japan. " Thursday, 14 November marks 15 years of outstanding service that USS Blue Ridgehas provided to our country and Navy. Day in and day out. Blue Ridge ' s crew demonstrates dedicated support to Seventh Fleet and serves superbly as a member of the Overseas Family Residency Program. On this proud occasion, I ' m extremely proud to have Blue Ridge as a member of NAVSURFGRU WESTPAC. Happy Birthday. " -RADM H.L. Webster, USN COMNAVSURFGRU WESTPAC 1970-1985 65
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