• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

CTF 152 Visits USS Mason

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS061126-04
Release Date: 11/26/2006 6:41:00 PM

By Lt. j.g. Marta Savage, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet Public Affairs

USS MASON, At Sea (NNS) -- Italian Navy Rear Adm. Emilio Foltzer, commander, Task Force (CTF) 152, paid a visit to the Sailors on USS Mason (DDG 87) Nov. 24 to recognize them for the important role they are playing in the region.

Mason, on deployment in support of maritime security operation (MSO), has been operating with CTF 152 in the Persian Gulf since Nov. 5.

“We are out here protecting the ocean’s highways to make it safe for mariners. Mason’s efforts as part of CTF 152’s international coalition helps strengthen the relations between our coalition friends and is yielding greater effects than any one nation alone can produce,” said Cmdr. John Fuller, commanding officer of Mason.

During the visit, Foltzer dined with officers in the wardroom, toured various work spaces and was briefed on the ship’s capabilities.

MSO help set the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment and complement the counter-terrorism and security efforts of regional nations.

These operations deny international terrorists use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material.

Mason departed its homeport of Norfolk, Va., Oct. 3, with the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) Carrier Strike Group on a regularly scheduled deployment.