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Nassau Enjoys First Port Visit on Deployment

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS051128-01
Release Date: 11/28/2005 9:16:00 AM

By Journalist 1st Class (SW) Cindy Gill, USS Nassau Public Affairs

ABOARD USS NASSAU, At Sea (NNS) -- USS Nassau (LHA 4) departed Naval Station Rota, Spain, Nov. 21, checking off the first milestone of a six-month deployment since leaving Norfolk Nov. 7.

For many Nassau Sailors, Marines from Marine Expeditionary Unit 22 (Special Operations Capable) (22nd MEU (SOC)), and the other embarked units and detachments aboard Nassau, the visit was their first time outside the United States.

“I never thought I’d get to see Europe,” said Aviation Support Equipment Technician Airman Marlon Bevens, of the ship’s Hazardous Materials Division. “I went on tours to Seville and Portugal. The weather wasn’t great, but it was a lot of fun.”

In addition to Portugal and Seville, Nassau’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) staff worked in conjunction with their Rota counterparts to offer a day trip to Gibraltar and an evening watching flamenco dancers.

“Rota’s MWR staff was wonderful,” said Nassau’s MWR Director, or “Fun Boss,” Greg Werner. “They were able to plan a wide variety of activities on short notice for the crew.”

Many Sailors and Marines took advantage of the trips, while others preferred to visit the local area.

“It was nice to get out and see the town of Rota, although I’ve been here three times before,” said Marine Staff Sgt. James Modrak, of Weapons Company, 81st Battalion, Second Marines, a part of the 22nd MEU (SOC). “It was great to see camaraderie built among the Marines.”

Nassau’s visit was scheduled for three days, but strong winds kept her in port an additional day, allowing for one last visit to the Navy Exchange.

Nassau is the lead ship of the Nassau Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG), on her regularly scheduled six-month deployment in support of the global war on terrorism.

Other ships comprising the Nassau ESG include the amphibious transport ship USS Austin (LPD 4), the dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50), the cruiser USS Cape St. George (CG 71), the destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81), and the attack submarine USS Norfolk (SSN 714). All of the ESG's ships are based out of Naval Station Norfolk, Va., except Carter Hall, which based out of Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Va.

The Nassau ESG will be joined on station by the Norfolk-based destroyer USS Gonzalez (DDG 66), forward-deployed until summer 2006 as part of the Navy’s Sea Swap experiment.