Ronald Reagan diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, an incurable neurological disorder which destroys brain cells and ultimately causes death. In November of that year, he informed the nation of the diagnosis through a handwritten letter, writing in part: After his diagnosis, letters of support from well-wishers poured into his California home. But there was also speculation over how long Reagan had demonstrated symptoms of mental degeneration. Not long after the attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan, at a reception for mayors, Reagan greeted his Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Samuel Pierce in 1981 by saying "How are you, Mr Mayor? How are things
USS Ronald Reagan Japan in 2015. In 2015 the "Ronald Reagan" replaced in Japan as the US Navy's only forward deployed aircraft carrier and took her new place as the flagship of Carrier Strike Group Five and Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5). On 1 October 2015, "Ronald Reagan" arrived in her newest home port, Yokosuka in Kanagawa Prefecture. CVW-5 was based at Naval Air Facility Atsugi, which is also located in Kanagawa Prefecture. The ship was open for the public to tour on 12 October. On 29 October two Russian Tupolev Tu-142 bombers flew within one mile of the ship at low altitude.