SOUDA BAY, Greece –
Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Nitze (DDG 94) departs Souda Bay, Greece on April 18, 2019, after a regularly-scheduled port visit.
While in port, Sailors were able to experience traditional Greek culture by trying new foods, picking up new dances and touring the island.
“Walking around the town and trying the foods was very different. I noticed how much pride the restaurants took in the dishes they cooked,” said Ship’s Serviceman Seaman Dylan Robertson.
During the visit, the Morale, Welfare and Recreation committee offered many activities to the crew, including a cultural evening filled with foods and dancing, a winery tour in Crete and a Jeep tour of the White Mountains. The tours are aimed at helping Sailors get to know their shipmates a little better as well as build their understanding of different cultures and traditions.
“This was my first time in Greece and being able to travel the world to help and do community service in a foreign country is worth it at the end of the day,” said Personnel Specialist 1st Class Lavetrice Humphries.
The First-Class Petty Officer Association sponsored a community service beach clean-up, where sailors walked along the Marathi Beach, located in Marathi, Chania, Crete, Greece, as well as the Stravos Beach, located on the Northern tip of Akrotiri, picking up left-behind trash.
“Sailors aboard the Nitze were able to go into Greece and strengthen our foreign relations and boost the economy by doing community service,” said Chief Intelligence Specialist Derek Tinsley. “The Sailors also got to experience the country while in port, and I would call that a successful port visit.”
Nitze is underway as part of Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group (CSG) deployment in support of maritime security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th, U.S. 6th and U.S. 7th Fleet areas of responsibility.
With Abraham Lincoln as the flagship, deployed strike group assets include staffs, ships and aircraft of Carrier Strike Group 12, Destroyer Squadron 2, and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7; as well as Alvaro de Bazan-class frigate ESPS Méndez Núñez (F 104).
For more news from USS Nitze (DDG 94), visit
http://www.navy.mil/local/ddg94/ or http://www.facebook.com/USSLincoln/.
For more news from USS Abraham Lincoln Strike Group (CVN 72) visit http://www.navy.mil/local/cvn72/.