Recent News From the USS Kearsarge

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                

KEARSARGE Sailors, Marines Enjoy Liberty in Palma
by JO 2 Liz Baross, USS KEARSARGE Public Affairs

Sailors and Marines from the amphibious assault ship USS KEARSARGE (LHD-3) stopped for a port visit at Palma de Mallorca, Spain, April 7-13.

KEARSARGE is on a scheduled deployment in support of the Global War on Terrorism.

While in port, the crew visited many historical sites either on their own or through tours arranged by the Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) committee.

MWR offered a variety of tours consisting of a bus trip to Costa Nord, where the crew received a documentary tour of a castle as a cellar for some wine tasting. Another tour was of the Drach Caves. Here Sailors and Marines where able to walk through these caves down to the world’s largest underground lake.  Additionally, MWR offered horseback riding, snorkeling, scuba diving and golf.

“The Palma City tour was very nice,” said GMSN Sean Hicks. “The tour of the cathedral was amazing.  It was an outstanding display of theological history and showed how much religion means to the people of Mallorca.”

Most of the tours ended by late afternoon, which gave the KEARSARGE crew plenty of free time to enjoy the nightlife in both Palma and Magaluff, a small town east of Palma City .

          The port visit was not only about sightseeing and the nightlife, but also about being good ambassadors in the community.  More than 60 Sailors and Marines participated in two separate community relations projects for Projecte Home, a drug rehabilitation center.

          The Palma Council of the U.S. Navy League was a key ingredient to the success of this port visit.  Navy League members were flown out to the ship as we approached Palma, giving the ship and community leadership an opportunity to meet and develop relationships before the ship arrived pierside.

          Additionally, KEARSARGE hosted a reception in the Hangar Bay for Navy League members and local dignitaries, while the Navy League coordinated a reception hosted by Palma ’s Assistant Mayor at City Hall.  KEARSARGE also hosted tours for local Navy League members as well as other key officials.

“These visits and events went a long way in strengthening partnerships between the Navy and the Palma community as well as paying big dividends in making this a very enjoyable port visit for the crew,” said Capt. Luke Parent, KEARSARGE’s Commanding Officer.

          The port visit was both fun and rewarding to a lot of Sailors and Marines.  It gave them a chance to bond outside the ship and become a better Blue-Green team on the ship.

  Corrections for this Web Site may be sent to:
  webmaster@warner.nh.us 
  Copyright © 2011 Town of Warner, NH