Chamber executive director Richard A. Pierce, president Doug Brennan and other officers mingled with the 12 officers and 98 crewmembers and extended island hospitality to the sailors.
USS Pasadena commanding officer Drew St. John told the Variety that although it is the second time for the submarine to visit Saipan, it is his first time to be here.
“I enjoyed the beautiful islands, and the underwater is just wonderful. I guess I stayed a lot of times exploring Saipan’s underwater during the past few days,” St. John said.
He said that his crew is also enjoying their stay here.
St. John said prior to their arrival on Saipan, USS Pasadena, which is homeported at Pearl Harbor, operated in the Western Pacific for the past four months. The submarine came from Japan and will return to Pearl Harbor from here.
The Saipan Chamber of Commerce met the officers and crewmembers of USS Pasadena upon its arrival on Friday noon.
The chamber urges the community to “continue to build our reputation as the preferred MWR (Morale, Welfare, and Recreation) destination in the Asia-Pacific Region” by welcoming sailors warmly to the islands.
