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New Orleans Celebrates Independence Day with Multination Partners

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS100706-07
7/6/2010

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW) Gabriel Owens, USS New Orleans (LPD 18) Public Affairs

NEW ORLEANS, At Sea (NNS) -- Sailors stationed on board USS New Orleans (LPD 18) celebrated July 4 with amphibious operations alongside Marines and South American multinational partners.

New Orleans is participating in Southern Partnership Station (SPS) 2010, a deployment of various specialty platforms to the U.S. Southern Command Area of Responsibility in Latin America.

SPS provides the opportunity for joint operations between partner nations, which develops and tests participating regional civil and maritime services' capabilities to respond to a wide variety of maritime missions while keeping vital lines of communication open between regional services.

Due to weather complications, the offload of 24th Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force (SPMAGTF 24) equipment had to be completed July 4.

"Today we celebrate the triumph of democracy over tyranny," said Cmdr. Jeff Oakey, commanding officer of New Orleans. "I can't think of a better way to do it than operating today with our nation's southern hemisphere partners."

While the crew's family and friends back in the United States celebrated Independence Day with barbeques, fireworks and get-togethers, New Orleans was busy launching helicopters and amphibious boats.

"It doesn't feel like a Sunday or a holiday," said Fire Controlman 2nd Class Tyler Homelvig. "But sometimes you have to sacrifice to get the mission done."

Service members from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay are deployed with New Orleans to enhance the interaction between those partner nations and the U.S. Navy. New Orleans, with Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 5, SPMAGTF 24 and other deployed units are scheduled to visit Callao, Peru; Bahia Malaga, Colombia; and Balboa, Panama during the three-month deployment.

"It's special to share this Fourth of July solidifying partnerships that we may need in the future," said Oakey. "Just as France stepped in to help our budding democracy over 230 years ago."

New Orleans is a San Antonio-class ship designed and built to fight. Its war-fighting capabilities include a state-of-the-art command and control suite, substantially increased vehicle lift capacity, a large flight deck and advanced ship survivability features that enhance its ability to operate in a littoral environment.