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USS Hopper Visits Masawa, Eritrea
Story Number: NNS041014-01
Release Date: 10/14/2004 9:42:00 AM
By Ensign Lauren A. Kent, USS Hopper Public Affairs
ABOARD USS HOPPER, At Sea (NNS) -- USS Hopper (DDG 70) had the rare opportunity to visit the East African nation of Eritrea Oct. 7-9 while deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR), becoming the first U.S. Navy ship to have a port of call in Masawa, Eritrea, since 1997.
The Hopper crew hosted a luncheon Oct. 8 and provided a ship tour for Eritrean Minister of Defense Gen. Sebhat Ephrem, U.S. Ambassador to Eritrea Scott Delisi, and Commander, Joint Task Force, Horn of Africa Marine Maj. Gen. Samuel T. Helland, as well as other Eritrean military officials and U.S. embassy personnel. The Hopper crew prepared static displays for the distinguished guests, ranging from damage control equipment to Visit, Board, Search and Seizure gear used for maritime interception operations.
Hopper Sailors participated in two public service projects while in port Masawa. Approximately 30 Sailors volunteered at the city’s public library, providing painting, landscaping and plumbing assistance.
“There was a lot for us to do,” said Engineman 2nd Class Rhoniel B. Peralta. “We laid bricks, painted the interior walls and cleaned up the yard. I was surprised to see that the library contained mostly American books. The employees were very cooperative and eager to have our assistance.”
Hopper’s efforts at the library marked the opening of the new “American Corner.”
“One of the men at the library told me how happy he was to see U.S. Navy Sailors in Eritrea again,” said Fire Controlman 2nd Class Timothy Gill. “The local media arrived to gather footage of our visit to the library, and he said it would warm the hearts of the Eritreans to see the work we were doing on television that night.”
Further outside of Masawa, 25 Sailors planted more than 500 Mangrove trees along the coast of the Red Sea, as part of the Sea Water Forest Initiative Project sponsored by the U.S. Agency for International Development.
“This project is part of an effort to control erosion along the coast,” said Fire Controlman 2nd Class Troy J. Raffety. “The landscape was beautiful, and we had fun working outdoors with the project coordinators.”
Eritrea formally gained its independence from Ethiopia in 1993, after more than 30 years of fighting.
“In this previously war-torn country that has fought so hard for freedom, it was important for Hopper Sailors to help the community in any way we could. I wish we could have done more,” said Operations Specialist 1st Class Wesley Pamplin, Hopper’s community relations coordinator.
Hopper deployed from her homeport of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, July 28 and is currently operating with coalition forces of Task Force 150 in support of the global war on terrorism. Task Force 150 is composed of more than 12 nations, including the United States, Pakistan, France and Germany, who are conducting expanded maritime interception operations in international waters in the 5th Fleet AOR.
For related news, visit the Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/cusnc.
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