Pattaya (Thailand) (AFP) – Around 5,000 US sailors and Marines arrive in Thailand’s resort city of Pattaya after a Middle East deployment that sparked concerns over conditions on board. Dressed in civilian shorts and T-shirts, some US service members are given traditional garlands at a welcoming ceremony at a central hotel. “We’re very, very happy to be here,” commanding officer Captain Dan Keeler tells reporters. “We really look forward to our time here to get a little rest and relaxation,” he adds.
