USS Tarawa Welcomes Top Kuwaiti Naval Officer
ABOARD USS TARAWA, At Sea (NNS) -- Top Navy commanding officers embarked on USS Tarawa (LHA 1) recently welcomed Kuwait's top naval officer for a visit in the North Arabian Gulf Feb. 27, as the United States and Kuwait continue joint naval operations in the region.
Kuwait's Commander of Naval Forces, Maj. Gen. Ahmad Al-Mulla, and his official party flew aboard the "Eagle of the Sea" to meet the senior leadership and to take a firsthand look at the San Diego-based amphibious assault ship.
Al-Mulla's visit to Tarawa reinforces a long-standing alliance between the United States and Kuwait, as the two navies work together to support peace in the Arabian Gulf region, according to Rear Adm. W. Clyde Marsh, commander, Task Force 51.
"This visit demonstrates the excellent partnership we have with our Kuwaiti allies," said Marsh.
Among the Navy commanding officers embarked on Tarawa who hosted the visit were Capt. Ronald Thomas, commander, Amphibious Squadron 7, and USS Tarawa's Commanding Officer, Capt. Jay Bowling.
Following a command brief, Tarawa's crew rolled out the red carpet to welcome Al-Mulla with a tour that included the bridge, air traffic control tower and medical department.
While touring the medical spaces, the senior Kuwaiti naval officer passed a bed-ridden USS Rushmore (LSD 47) Sailor receiving health care. Before continuing, he returned to the bedside of the ill 20-year-old native of Salem, Ore., to give his well wishes and a ballcap as a token of compassion.
“I was surprised,” said Seaman Jamie Hess, who was recovering in Tarawa's sickbay. "I didn't know who he was until someone told me after I met him, but I was impressed that he took the time to talk to me.”
As the tour made its way into the lower areas of the ship, a handful of Tarawa crew members, such as Aviation Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class James Penkert, stepped forward to talk about their area of expertise.
“He asked a lot of questions," said Penkert, from Springfield, Mo., who showed off the aircraft-filled hangar bay. "It’s great to be an ambassador for America for a day, and to show what we do to someone who is interested.”
Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class Herb Kresge did the same with the well deck and upper vehicle decks.
“I was very excited to meet somebody of such a high rank from another country," said Kresge, from Scranton, Pa. "He seemed very interested, and it was a real pleasure to give him a tour.”
The Tarawa visit marked the first time aboard a U.S. large deck amphibious warship for Al-Mulla, who graduated from the Royal Navy College in Dartmouth, England, and the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, R.I., as a member of Naval Staff Class 26.
"I was pleased to host Maj. Gen. Al-Mulla aboard the 'Eagle of the Sea' as a token of appreciation for the outstanding support he has provided to the U.S. Navy and coalition partners," said Marsh. "He graciously worked with our forces as we conducted local offload operations."
Tarawa's presence in the North Arabian Gulf comes as part of a six-month deployment to the Western Pacific and Arabian Gulf. The San Diego-based amphibious assault ship currently serves as the command ship for Commander Task Force 51.
