Thread: US warships headed for PHUKET

USS Nimitz arrives in Phuket
Monday, February 1, 2010

The nuclear-powered supercarrier USS Nimitz, as viewed from the stern.

Ampika ‘Grace’ Raktabut, the only Thai among some 6,000 US sailors in Phuket for a little R&R.

PHUKET TOWN: Thousands of US servicemen stationed aboard the USS Nimitz and its support vessels arrived in Phuket yesterday morning for five days of rest and relaxation.

Anxious to get off the 333-meter vessel after a month on board, sailors and marines quickly formed a long line extending almost the entire length of the hangar deck.

As enlisted men and women waited to catch one of three ferries shuttling the sailors ashore, about 20 members of the Phuket press corps were welcomed aboard for a comprehensive tour of the vessel that included the flight deck, bridge, control tower, operations and radar rooms and forecastle.

USS Nimitz Commander Adm John ‘Fozzie’ Miller and other top officers met the press at the base of the control tower on the flight deck, saying they were ‘delighted’ at getting the chance to visit Phuket and meet the Thai people.

He described Thais as ‘great friends’ of the American people.

All staff going ashore had been thoroughly briefed on a range of safety issues and were committed to being ‘good guests’ during their stay in Phuket, Adm Miller said.

Teams of volunteer US servicemen will take part in community relations or ‘Comrel’ projects at two local schools during the liberty leave, he said.

The Comrels are organized with the assistance of the Rotary Club of Patong Beach.

Today and tomorrow sailors from the USS Nimitz will paint the cafeteria at Baan Ao Nam Bor School in Ao Makham, near the Deep Sea Port.

Meanwhile, sailors from the escort vessels USS Pinckney and the USS Rentz will paint classrooms, hallways and fences at the Baan Sai Nam Yen School in Patong.

As part of the media tour, the press got to meet 20-year-old Ampika ‘Grace’ Raktabut, the only Thai among the 6,000 sailors on the three vessels.

Born in Chanthaburi, Ms Ampika moved to the US with her family in 1997 and currently works on a team that launches and recovers some 60 aircraft from the crowded flight deck. She joined the military on the advice of her now-deceased mother, who said it would be a good way for her to gain experience and see the world.

Ms Ampika, who was interviewed in both English and Thai, told the press she enlisted about a year ago, signing up for eight years.

She works 14-hour shifts daily without holidays for pay of about US$1,200 per month.

Now in her sixth month of an eight-month tour, Ms Ampika described the work as very difficult, but also very rewarding.

“It’s hard because all the equipment we use is at least 30 pounds,” said the diminutive sailor.

Relatives are flying in from Bangkok today and she hopes to spend time with them on some of the island’s beaches. It is her first time in Phuket, she said.

Ms Ampika said she had been teaching her friends some basic Thai in order to help them during their stay here. Most were looking forward to enjoying the nightlife, she said.

On the ferry ashore, the Gazette spoke to UN Navy Officers Lt Elizabeth Holland from Groton, Connecticut and Lt Mark Bryan from Ellaville, Georgia. Both are assigned to the Nimitz’s nuclear reactor room.

Noting that this particular part of the vessel was not included on the tour, the Gazette asked what their work station was like.

They described it as a windowless ‘steam room’ that was ‘very hot at the moment’.

The officers said they would check in at The Mangosteen resort and check out Thai boxing in Patong that night.

Other than that their only objective was ‘to relax’, they said.

Once ashore, sailors found a number of vendors and taxi drivers eagerly awaiting their arrival.

Large bottles of ice-cold Heineken sold from Styrofoam coolers at 100 baht each were popular among the sailors, who are denied the right to drink on board.

Although there were free air-conditioned tour buses to Patong available, taxi drivers promised to get sailors to the west coast nightlife hub faster for US$80 (about 2,600 baht).

Welcome to Phuket.

phuketgazette.net

The squads detailed to paint various buildings reminded me of an old cartoon I saw a lomg while back. In it two crusty old admirals are sat at a bar and one says "What say we go paint the town battleship grey tonight?". I just hope the paint squads have been issued rather more festive colours for their work.

And I'm sure the shore leave boys are looking forward to the night life, will fill a few pockets for a while.

USS Nimitz versus the Patong Jetski racketeers……

Round ’em up….put 'em in a field…..and bomb the bastards!

Yes, considering they can't drink at sea and have wads of cash, they are a real bunch of farking cheapskates.

Nimitz used to dock regularly in Portsmouth when I were a lad, so lil from over the hill was down with her tats and beer gut to load 'em in. Mateys used to skin up loads of weakish spliffs to sell to the yank matelots, each a fiver, in the nightclubs on Southsea seafront....earner it was and smiley they were.

Originally Posted by Mid

Although there were free air-conditioned tour buses to Patong available, taxi drivers promised to get sailors to the west coast nightlife hub faster for US$80 (about 2,600 baht). Welcome to Phuket.

Jesus Christ,, Thats more money than I would give for a weeks rent on one of those sleazy bastards.

That little broad has pobly got a couple of AWOL bags full of $20 bills now anyway,,if'n she ain't to stupid.

Originally Posted by blackgang

That little broad has pobly got a couple of AWOL bags full of $20 bills now anyway,,if'n she ain't to stupid.

What else are women good for in the military? They're not allowed into combat, yet they still get equal pay.

Whats that fruit salad on her jumper,, is that a good conduct ribbon,, I never got one of them....

^^National Defense Medal.

I bet the rip off merchants are rubbing their hands with glee!

The arrival of these troops represents a blessing for the Thai tourist industry as they do usually spend up big up until they run out of money.

My good friend owns a Restaurant on Walking Street and she laughs as she tells me about how they start off with ordering Lobsters and Crabs when they first arrive and then scale down to fried rice by the end of their shore leave.

Mostly good guys that rarely cause any trouble and I hope they enjoy their stay in LOS.

How many jetskis will be damaged one only can guess.

^ I reckon that all those on shore leave will have had a "Do and Don't Do Instruction Sheet" handed to them and one they have to follow to the letter.

It will be nice to see those thieving robbing bastards sitting there lamenting how their past has left them with no business.

Plenty of fodder for the jet-ski scammers.

This little girl,"Grace", gets twelve hundred dollars a month for 14 hour shifts, daily, with no holidays.????? Is this right, or is it a missprint>????????

what abUT TUK TUK SCAMERS IN PHUKET ???????????

Originally Posted by Bazzy

Plenty of fodder for the jet-ski scammers.

I can't remember a "boxing bar " in Phuket ? - if they have I know where the best fun will be - Pattaya boxing bar does very well with the Yanks in town.
Good fun to watch the boys lose their money backing their monster size ship mates against the wily muay Thai experts.
Don't know how you beat a springballed Thai with a need ? most of the big Yanks can't go the distance and the Thai's keep getting up ?

Originally Posted by Thaiguy

Originally Posted by Bazzy

Plenty of fodder for the jet-ski scammers.

I can't remember a "boxing bar " in Phuket ? - if they have I know where the best fun will be - Pattaya boxing bar does very well with the Yanks in town.
Good fun to watch the boys lose their money backing their monster size ship mates against the wily muay Thai experts.
Don't know how you beat a springballed Thai with a need ? most of the big Yanks can't go the distance and the Thai's keep getting up ?

THEY DONT HAVE THE BOXING BARS IN PUKETH AFTER A SMERIKAN GI WAS KILD BY SAYING I WILL GO IN THE RING WHITH THAT LITLE FELLOW

^^^^Basic salary for a new enlistee like Grace is around $1400 per month. But remember, no rent, no bills, uniform allowance, free food, educational opportunities, free medical and dental, travel the world, etc. So, the $1400 is basically party money - other than the fact there is no place to party. Compare that to a high school graduate of her age and experience working a minimum wage job in the US, and paying the full load of bills, and Grace comes out far better off.

Originally Posted by Lum Khaan

USS Nimitz versus the Patong Jetski racketeers……

Round ’em up….put 'em in a field…..and bomb the bastards!

sorry LK but it is the simple minded like yourself who should be repremanded for suggestting that honorable service members be bombed.

Originally Posted by SEA Traveler

Originally Posted by Lum Khaan

USS Nimitz versus the Patong Jetski racketeers……

Round ’em up….put 'em in a field…..and bomb the bastards!

sorry LK but it is the simple minded like yourself who should be repremanded for suggestting that honorable service members be bombed.

I'm fairly certain he was referring to the Jetski operators.