With some of them stripped to the waist and wading in thigh-high deep murky water, the crewmembers uprooted and cleared a portion of the creek that has been clogged for some time.
U.S. Park Ranger Susan Fishman-Tudor said it requires more people to entirely clean up the creek but they are very thankful for the help of the USS Cheyenne crewmembers.
“The water is supposed to flow around and irrigate the park but because of the water hyacinths, the water has clogged,” Fishman-Tudor said.
USS Cheyenne Cap. Gary Rogeness said helping clear up the creek was their small contribution to community service on island.
“We have a very good time in this beautiful island for the past days. We enjoyed the warmth of the people here, ate the best foods, toured the attraction sites and experienced total island hospitality,” said Rogeness, who is a first timer on Saipan. He said the 25 crewmembers volunteered to help in the community service yesterday.
USS Cheyenne supply officer Joshua Hogan said he was really humbled when he saw his great grand-uncle’s name, Sgt. Robert Clymes, engraved along with the thousands of other names at the park’s Court of Honor.
“I learned before that my grandmother’s brother was among those who died here during the war but I did not feel its impact until I saw his name yesterday,” Hogan said.
“It’s humbling to know that he was one of those who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of the nation.”
Clymes died here on July 8, 1944 but Hogan said his remains were buried in Tennessee.
USS Cheyenne information officer Edgar Alvarez said he was very touched with the warm welcome that they received from the people of Saipan.
“I first visited Saipan nine years ago. This is my second time but I still want to come back,” Alvarez said.
The crewmembers said they were lucky to be here for the Taste of the Marianas last Saturday where they had their fill of island specialties and local entertainment.
The USS Cheyenne pulled into the Saipan port on Saturday morning with over 150 officers and crewmembers. It is the ship’s third stopover on island, having docked here in first in 2002 and 2005.
On Wednesday night, the Saipan Chamber of Commerce hosted a reception for the crewmembers at the Hard Rock Café in Garapan. The ship will depart Saipan today.
