USS Nashville Visits Rota, Spain

Mar 18, 2008 -- ROTA, Spain — Sailors aboard the amphibious transport dock ship USS Nashville (LPD 13) visited the port here March 3-6, while transiting through the U.S. Navy's 6th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR).

The Sailors enjoyed three days of liberty in the city, and also took the time to help the local community and improve international relations.

Amphibious transport dock ship USS Nashville: Department of Defense official file photo of the amphibious transport dock ship USS Nashville (LPD 13).

On March 5, Nashville's Chaplain, Lt. Edward D. Bass, took a group of 10 Sailors to the Sol y Vida homeless shelter in El Puerto de Santa Maria and assisted the staff there in cleaning up the facility, as well as handing out clothing, food and other supplies.

"The purpose of our project was to give Sailors an outlet to serve those less fortunate than themselves, and at the same time, strengthen community relations with the local community," said Bass. "A simple act of goodwill, done freely, goes a long way toward building and strengthening the reputation of the Navy and its Sailors."

"The shelter is the only one in the town that is completely run by volunteers, and the local workers greatly appreciated the Sailors' support and assistance," Bass added.

The Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) officer aboard Nashville also set up several tours of the local area to make sure the Sailors experienced everything the region had to offer.

"We set up the tours to allow Nashville Sailors to experience Spanish culture and history," said Ensign Laura A. Thornton, MWR officer. "We had about 150 people take three different tours, all of which had great reviews. People got to view the 3rd largest cathedral in the world, Christopher Columbus's tomb, St. Michael's Cave and the Rock of Gibraltar."

After leaving Rota, Nashville will continue to operate in the U.S. 6th Fleet AOR with the rest of the Nassau Expeditionary Strike Group to support Maritime Security Operations and Theater Security Cooperation efforts.

Source: EUCOM

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