The Pacific Fleet Today

The U.S. Pacific Fleet epitomizes the Navy's combat power.Its 180 ships and their aircraft patrol more than half of the planet.Admiral Robert F. Willard is Commander of the Fleet's more than 125,000 personnel,including sailors,Marines and civilians,who make it one of the most exceptional military groups in the world.The Pacific Fleet is based at Pearl Harbor,Hawaii,even as it was during World War II.Now as then,USPACFLT is a shield for democracy and its free markets.San Diego,California and Sasebo,Japan are also centers of the Fleet's operations.Admiral Timothy J. Keating is Commander,U.S. Pacific Command,one of the unified combatant commands,which oversees all U.S. forces in the vast region.

Essex Withdraws

The USS Essex(LHD 2) and her task force of three ships have withdrawn from the coast of Myanmar.After 15 attempts to convince the Myanmar leaders to allow aid to the cyclone-ravaged land,Admiral Timothy J. Keating,Commander,U.S. Pacific Command,said he was saddened and frustrated by the leaders' unrelenting position.Keating had personally flown to the capital,Rangoon,and offered to permit Myanmar personnel aboard Navy ships and aircraft.British and French warships were also turned away.The Navy remains willing to assist,Admiral Keating said.