7th Fleet Focus: Sailors Stranded in Hong Kong

Typhoon Fengshen, which recently did considerable damage to the Philippines resulting in a high loss of life from the ferry incident alone, much less other places, is moving through the Pacific heading towards China. This prompted the US Navy, specifically the Reagan Carrier Strike Group, to put to sea early resulting in some stranded sailors who didn't get the message.

More than 100 US sailors were marooned Tuesday in Hong Kong's famous "girlie" bars after their aircraft carrier hoisted anchor and left without them. The sailors were left behind when the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier and its support ships, carrying a total of more than 5,000 sailors, decided to leave Sunday because of an approaching tropical storm.

While officers managed to contact most of the men who had been on shore leave in the former British colony since Thursday, more than 100 could not be reached and were left behind.

They now have to wait several days in Hong Kong before being flown to the aircraft carrier group's next port of call, which is kept secret for operational reasons.

While it wouldn't be very much fun to ride out a Typhoon in Hong Kong if it was a direct hit, I can't think of a better place to spend a few extra days on liberty. With the Navy picking up the hotel and food bill for the sailors who got left behind, we should all feel sorry for the terrible situation these sailors find themselves in.

Uhm... ok, maybe not. Remember boys, fly's spread disease, so keep yours closed.