USS Germantown to call on Saipan
OVER 700 Navy personnel aboard the USS Germantown will arrive on Saipan for their rest and relaxation.
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Wednesday November 28, 2007
By Emmanuel T. Erediano
Variety News Staff
Military and Veterans Affairs Office executive officer Ruth Coleman said the ship has a crew of 725 and is returning from military exercise somewhere in the Pacific.
The ship is expected to arrive at 8 a.m. today.
The Military and Veterans Affairs Office will lead the welcoming ceremony and brief the visiting military personnel about activities on the island.
She said the military personnel led by Cmdr. Steve Vince plans to meet with members of the community and businesses on Saipan.
The Saipan Chamber of Commerce, the Marianas Visitors Authority and the Veterans of Foreign Wars will also be welcoming the sailors, Coleman said.
Mariana Islands Nature Alliaance executive director Angelo Villagomez said the visitors will also participate in cleanup activities.
Coleman said the ship will be leaving on Sunday.
The USS Germantown is the second Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship in the U.S. Navy and the second Navy ship named after the Revolutionary War battle at Germantown.
The amphibious assault ship’s mission is to project power ashore by transporting and launching amphibious craft and vehicles loaded with Marines in support of an amphibious assault.
The ship was designed specifically to operate with landing craft air cushion vessels. It has the largest capacity for these landing craft of any Navy amphibious platform.
The ship was commissioned in 1986 and played a significant role during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in 1990–1991.
The Germantown supported Operation Iraqi Freedom by landing Marines and equipment from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit.