John Stennis (CVN 74) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 454 text:

M ' - 1 450 ' Pusan, South Korea

Page 453 text:

lln ;■-■ ' ■: J fter three weeks of intense training and flight operations while crossing the Pacific Ocean, I the JCS crew arrived in the South Korean port city of Pusan for their first port visit of the , Millennium Deployment. JCS hadn ' t visited a foreign port since Victoria, British Columbia, in July of ' 99, so the first steps off the hberty boats were the first ever on foreign soil for many of the newer Sailors and Marines. The weather report for Pusan was accurate: cold and windy. But the chilly temperatures didn ' t discourage anyone. They were too eager to explore the sprawling city and experience a unique facet of Asian culture to let a little chill get in the way. The shops on Texas Street gave the crew a chance to sharpen their bartering skills before movmg deeper into Asia. They bargained (sometimes for hours) for the latest video games, leather goods, and designer clothes, but the most popular items by far were the imitation mink blankets. Many started out as gifts and ended up spread across racks on the ship. MWR tours took crewmembers to the country ' s capital of Seoul, a hot spring bathhouse, and several religious temples including the worid ' s largest Buddhist shrine. Project Handclasp coordinated a community relations visit to the Sin-Ae Won Orphanage, an establishment that cares for more than one hundred children, most of who are mentally or physically chal- lenged. The crewmembers entertained the kids with face painting and a juggling act, and presented the orphanage with toys and clothing. ?man, Smth Korefl 449

Page 455 text:

?imy f South Korefl. iS-Jti lHatiy ' Jr.- . -