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USS New Orleans Completes Port Visit in Peru

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS100801-09
8/1/2010

By Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Robert Winkler, Amphibious Southern Partnership Station Public Affairs

ABOARD USS NEW ORLEANS, At Sea (NNS) -- USS New Orleans (LPD-18), along with Amphibious Squadron 5 (PHIBRON 5), and other embarked units departed Callao, Peru, July 26, after completing a successful port visit in support of Amphibious-Southern Partnership Station (A-SPS) 2010.

A-SPS is the amphibious component of Southern Partnership Station, a deployment of various specialty platforms to the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility in Latin America and the Caribbean. The mission's primary goal is information sharing with navies, coast guards, and civilian services throughout the region. 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.

Just prior to the port visit, New Orleans, along with partner nations and Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force 24, participated in both Partnership of the Americas 2010 and Southern Exchange 2010 in support of A-SPS, conducting joint amphibious operations in Salinas and Ancon, Peru.

"I think this is one of the best ideas our commanders have had," said Colombian navy Lt. Cmdr. Luis Pulgarin. "It is so important that the U.S. and South American navies work together because it is one region … America … and we need to be able to share experiences and work together, because it will help us all to stay secure. At this moment, the United States and Colombia are both combating terrorism, and we need to work together. It is very important."

While moored in Callao, a port city a short distance from Lima, the Peruvian navy's Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, along with 15 other master chief petty officers, paid a visit to the Chief's Mess aboard USS New Orleans.

New Orleans Command Master Chief Jeff Kozlik welcomed them aboard.

"This visit was an outstanding way to kick off our port visit to Peru," said Kozlik. "They really seemed to enjoy their time aboard and I know that many new friendships were made."

In addition to the official functions, the Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) team aboard the ship arranged for the crew to have the opportunity to visit several historic sites during the visit, including a special trip to see one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, Machu Picchu, an ancient Incan city located high in the Andes Mountains.

Fire Controlman 2nd Class Alicia Diesch took advantage of the tours offered by MWR.

"I went on two tours," said Diesch. "I went to see Caral-Supe, and the Sacred Citadel of Pachacamac. I really enjoyed both tours. Caral was over three hours away, so I got to see a lot of Peru's countryside. To be at the oldest city in the Americas was just staggering. The Sacred Citadel was ancient ruins outside of the city of Lima. They talked a lot about the Incan culture. We got to see the temple where Cortez talked to the last Incan leader and betrayed him. It's the stuff you read in story books."

Diesch also had the opportunity to interact with the locals during the port visit.

"The Peruvians were very engaging and very much interested in showing us their way of life," said Diesch. "They have a very rich culture. Talking about their heritage, they were so passionate about it, it was hard not to get caught up."

USS New Orleans Commanding Officer Cmdr. Jeff Oakey felt the port visit was well deserved after the crew's performance since the beginning of the deployment.

"The crew of New Orleans and the other units aboard the ship have been putting in some long hours," said Oakey. "Every Sailor and Marine on board is a professional, and that includes those from our partner nations. We've worked together to try to get the most from this opportunity, and that's meant getting up before the sun to launch helicopters, and recovering amphibious vehicles at midnight. This was a great opportunity to allow the crew to get some time to enjoy themselves and to see Peru and some of the amazing things this country has to offer."

Service members from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, and Uruguay deployed from San Diego with USS New Orleans on June 10, in order to enhance the interaction between those partner nations and the U.S. Navy. With the exception of naval officers from Colombia, the partner nation service members departed the ship in Peru.

USS New Orleans, along with CPR-5 and other embarked units, are scheduled to visit Bahia Malaga, Colombia; and Balboa, Panama during the remainder of the three-month deployment.