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Roosevelt Visits Eilat, Israel

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS161003-12
Release Date: 10/3/2016 10:53:00 AM

By By Petty Officer 3rd Class Taylor A. Elberg, USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) Public Affairs

EILAT, Israel (NNS) -- The guided-missile destroyer USS Roosevelt (DDG 80), stopped in Eilat, Israel for a scheduled liberty port visit, Sept. 10-14.

While in port, the ship's Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) program offered Sailors the opportunity to participate in a variety of tours, including trips to the Dead Sea, Masada and Jerusalem.

During the tour of Jerusalem, 15 Sailors took advantage of the opportunity to become baptized in the Jordan River by Lt. Justin Hayes, the ship's chaplain.

Petty Officer 1st Class Marcel Dubenion coordinated a community relations (COMREL) event with The Minner-Scheidmann Families Vocational Rehabilitation Centre, assisting adults with disabilities on their daily work projects and helping with English skills.

"Roosevelt Sailors performed superbly," Dubenion said. "They had a lot of fun, they were very interactive, they were laughing, and the adults had a lot of fun, too. They were very happy to see new people."

Seaman Tariq Smith was one of 25 Roosevelt Sailors who participated in the COMREL event.

"We were able to help teach English, and we even learned a little bit of their language," Smith said. "I didn't really want to leave at all to be honest with you because they were so welcoming and very happy that we were there."

Lt. j.g. Jamar Miles, the damage control assistant aboard Roosevelt, spoke on the importance of liberty ports for Sailors.

"I think we had a great time," Miles said. "We recharged our batteries as a crew and were able to have an opportunity to get away from the ship so that we can refocus and get ready for the mission on the horizon."

Roosevelt, deployed as part of the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, is supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.