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Eisenhower Pulls into Naples for Port Visit

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS100715-04
7/15/2010

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW/AW) Felicito Rustique, Navy Public Affairs Support Element - East Detachment Europe

NAPLES, Italy (NNS) -- Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) set anchor off the coast of Naples, Italy, for a scheduled port visit July 13.

While Eisenhower Sailors headed for the pier, a handful of Italian reporters came aboard for a media brief with the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group's (CSG) top commanders on the ship's flight deck.

Capt. Dee L. Mewbourne, Eisenhower's commanding officer, along with Rear Adm. Phil S. Davidson, commander, CSG 8, and Capt. Roy J. Kelley, commander, Carrier Air Wing 7, spoke to local media, answered several questions and gave the visitors time to view the flight deck.

Davidson told the media that Naples is a personal favorite among port calls.

"This is my favorite place to be whenever we're in the Mediterranean," said Davidson. "We've been out to sea for quite a stretch of time now, and the crew's very excited to see Italy and enjoy liberty."

Mewbourne also shared a positive opinion regarding Eisenhower's visit to Naples.

"The crew's morale is very high," said Mewbourne. "They feel they've had a successful deployment with many accomplishments. Now they're looking forward to being here and afterward heading home. Naples is a fantastic city with many opportunities not just downtown, but in the surrounding area as well."

When asked about Eisenhower CSG's mission during its current deployment, Kelley offered some highlights.

"We flew nearly 3,000 missions, the vast majority of which were non-combative in support of international security forces on the ground," said Kelley. "We provided surveillance from F/A-18s and EA-6Bs and escorted convoys by ensuring paths were clear and free of improvised explosive devices and ambushes."

Eisenhower's visit to Naples is its final port call before heading back to its homeport of Norfolk. Eisenhower deployed Jan. 2 to the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet area of responsibility in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and maritime security operations in the region.