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Bataan Enjoys Port Visit in Spain

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070626-03
Release Date: 6/26/2007 7:59:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Justin Webster, USS Bataan Public Affairs

ROTA, Spain (NNS) -- Sailors and Marines aboard the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) made a port visit to Rota on June 14-20, before heading toward home after a six-month deployment.

Bataan Sailors and Marines from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) worked the first few days in port cleaning and painting the ship and washing down the MEU’s equipment used during missions and exercises in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operation (AOO).

The wash down is essential in making sure the MEU’s vehicles and equipment are not contaminated with foreign soil, seeds or bacteria that could damage American wildlife and agriculture.

With the work completed, Sailors and Marines enjoyed liberty in Spain. Bataan’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) offered tours ranging from shopping in Seville, to bull fights, a wine tasting event, dinner tour and flamenco dancing.

Sailors and Marines also enjoyed pizza and free bowling at the Rota base bowling alley.

“We averaged 250 people a day at the base bowling alley,” said Bataan’s MWR Director, Ivory Harris.

The “Bodega Nights” tour included wine tasting at a vineyard, dinner at a restaurant featuring Spanish cuisine and topping off the night with flamenco dancing for entertainment.

“The people were fun, the food was great and the sangria was fantastic,” said Gunner’s Mate Seaman Jake Stevens.

Rota’s natural landscape also had a lot to offer off the naval base.

“I enjoyed the beach,” said Personnel Specialist Seaman Pensa Khang. “It was calm and quiet, and it seemed like we were the only ones there.”

Sailors and Marines also took time out of their liberty to conduct a community relations (COMREL) project during the port visit. They helped renovate the Cartuja Monastery, where a group of nuns have been living for about four years.

Naval Station Rota’s Command Chaplain Lt. Allen Cameron set up the event between the nuns and Bataan.

“The ships that make port visits in Rota have been a tremendous help to this monastery,” said Allen. “They are a consistent means of help for the nuns.”

“The Sailors and Marines can get jobs done in hours that would normally take us months to accomplish,” said Sister Sol Miriam, a nun at the monastery.

A group of about 40 Sailors and Marines helped break down and rebuild new walls and expand sidewalks for the monastery.

“[The work we did] was not what I was expecting,” said Aviation Electronics Technician 3rd Class Jeffrey Taylor. “Usually it’s just painting and cleaning, but this time it was cement work and building. I had fun doing it.”

Rota offered something for everyone. Even though Bataan’s most important task was to prepare the ship for the transit across the Atlantic Ocean and back to her homeport in Norfolk, Sailors and Marines had the opportunity to enjoy a few days of relaxation and learn about Spain’s rich culture.

Bataan, commanded by Capt. Rick Snyder, left her homeport of Norfolk on Jan. 4 for a regularly scheduled deployment as the flagship of the Bataan Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG), which is comprised of the Bataan Strike Group, commanded by Capt. Peter Fanta, commander, Bataan Strike Group/Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 2, and the 26th MEU based out of Camp Lejeune, N.C., commanded by Marine Col. Gregg Sturdevant. Bataan Strike Group includes PHIBRON 2, Bataan, USS Shreveport (LPD 12), USS Oak Hill (LSD 51), USS Vella Gulf (CG 72), USS Nitze (DDG 94), USS Underwood (FFG 36), and USS Scranton (SSN 756).