By Gerardo R. Partido
Variety News Staff

THE Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group, which has departed Guam after a three-day port visit, participated in many community projects during its stay on island.
According to the Navy public affairs office, sailors and Marines belonging to the strike group volunteered their time to help beautify the villages of Agana Heights and Ordot-Chalan Pago.
The volunteers planted flowers and plants, removed trash from the roads, and built a fence for a new rest area.
Guam was the strike group’s first port of call since it left San Diego April 10 for a regularly scheduled deployment.
In addition to community service projects, many Navy personnel used their time on the island to rest, enjoy the sunshine and shop at the Naval Base’s Exchange to stock up on a few items before getting underway again.
This provided a boost to the local community as many island establishments saw a spike in their business revenues.
Personnel from the strike group also took advantage of a scuba diving trip organized by Morale, Welfare and Recreation and a river boat cruise down the Talofofo River that led tour-goers through the jungles of Guam.
The strike group consists of Amphibious Squadron 7, BHR, the USS Denver (LPD 9), the USS Rushmore (LSD 47), the USS Milius (DDG 69), the USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93), the USS Chosin (CG 65), and 2,200 combat-ready Marines of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
The Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group is underway on a regularly scheduled deployment and is currently under operational control of Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group 7 /Task Force 76, the Navy’s only forward-deployed amphibious force.
Task Force 76 is headquartered at White Beach Naval Facility in Okinawa, Japan, with an operating detachment in Sasebo, Japan.
According to the Navy, the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group is now underway for a regularly scheduled deployment in 7th Fleet’s area of responsibility.