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Tarawa Sailors Visit Bahrain

Navy Newsstand

Story Number: NNS030528-13

Release Date: 5/28/2003 1:05:00 PM

By Chief Journalist W. R. Polson, USS Tarawa Public Affairs

ABOARD USS TARAWA (NNS) -- Until recently, the experience of seeing Bahrain has eluded Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Phil Covill, whose only other visit to the region in 2000 was limited to the Naval Support Activity here following the attack on USS Cole (DDG 67). So, during his most recent port visit, this crew member of USS Tarawa (LHA 1) finally had his moment and seized it.

"Just haggling with the cab drivers started off the fun," said Covill. "Then we got to the souq (the city's old bazaar), and they had just about every shade and variety of gold and anything else you could imagine."

Like many of his shipmates, Covill soaked up the sights, sounds and flavors - as well as the overpowering summer sun - of the small island nation located between Qatar and Saudi Arabia in the Arabian Gulf. More than 2,000 Sailors and Marines embarked aboard the San Diego-based amphibious assault ship made the port visit to Bahrain's capital, Manama, from May 19-26.

The area's cultural and religious landmarks include numerous mosques that dot this modern waterfront city. Among these are the al-Khamis Mosque, which is more than 1,000 years old, and the modern "Grand Mosque," which is also steeped in tradition.

"Some of the mosques were pretty nice," said Covill. You would see a bunch of regular buildings, and then right in the middle would be the curved towers of the mosque. It was definitely different."

Many Sailors and Marines bartered for souvenirs and handicrafts at the Naval Support Activity, while others sought out the vendors who sold carpets, pearls and perfume. For other Sailors, just getting away from the grind of a deployment for a while was enough to make the port visit enjoyable.

"I'm excited just to pull in somewhere, just to get away from the ship for a few hours, to do some shopping and to have something different to eat," said Mess Management Specialist 2nd Class Damon Jones.

Meanwhile, approximately 40 Sailors participated in a community relations project, helping to paint and rehabilitate a playground at the Hope Institute for Handicapped Children in Manama.

"Everyone wants to have a good time when you pull in to a port, but taking time to help these kids makes a port visit something special," said Mess Management Specialist 2nd Class Rommel Reyes, who participated in the project.

Prior to the port visit, Sailors and Marines here had participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom, during which Tarawa served as the flagship for the coalition amphibious forces under Commander, Task Force 51.

The visit to Bahrain was the second port of call for Tarawa since departing Jan. 6 for a six-month deployment to the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean. The first port visit came Jan. 30-31 to Singapore. This deployment marks the 12th Western Pacific deployment for Tarawa, which was commissioned in 1976.