Dutch Deputy Secretary of Defense Visits Bataan
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS060601-09
6/1/2006
By Journalist 3rd Class Joanne De Vera, USS Bataan Public Affairs
USS BATAAN, At Sea (NNS) -- The Netherlands’ Deputy Secretary of Defense for Finance visited the Norfolk-based multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) May 30 while the ship was underway in the Caribbean Sea for the Dutch-led exercise, Joint Caribbean Lion 2006.
The honorable Cees Van Der Knapp boarded Bataan to observe the exercise and talk to Dutch and French soldiers and marines. He was accompanied by the commander of the amphibious task force, Dutch Commodore J. W. Ort.
“The exercise is very important for the Netherlands because we are testing the cooperation between the United States, France and the Netherlands,” said Van Der Knapp.
Commodore, Amphibious Squadron 2, Capt. Donna Looney, Bataan’s Commanding Officer, Capt. David Hulse, Dutch Liaison Officer, Dutch Capt. Wilco Kok, and ceremonial rainbow side boys greeted Van Der Knapp as he arrived on Bataan’s flight deck.
Van Der Knapp began his tour on the ship’s bridge, where he saw a fly by of Lynx helicopters and a pass in review of coalition ships. The official party proceeded to the landing force operations center, where Van Der Knapp received an update on the exercise from his Dutch company commanders. The tour continued to medical, the mess deck, berthing and vehicle stowage areas.
Van Der Knapp spoke to Sailors, Soldiers and Marines at every stop he took.
“It’s like a little village and everything is happening here,” Van Der Knapp said. “I’m very impressed.”
Bataan leads U.S. Navy participation in the exercise, which also includes USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43) and USS Taylor (FFG 50), and joins military forces from France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom and Venezuela.
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