USS Iwo Jima Makes GTMO Port Call

By Terence R. Peck, Naval Station Guantanamo Bay Public Affairs

GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba (NNS) -- USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) made a port visit to Naval Station Guantanamo Bay (GTMO), Cuba Aug. 4-6.

The ship made the port call to bring aboard supplies and to provide the crew a few days of rest and relaxation following its 10-day stop in Haiti.

During the two days in GTMO, the ship received 11,520 Meals-Ready-to-Eat and 140 pallets of food, including 35,000 pounds of fresh fruit and vegetables, 30,240 bottles of water, 115,000 gallons of J-5 jet fuel and 800,000 gallons of F-76 diesel.

Once the resupply was complete, Iwo Jima resumed its participation in Continue Promise 2010, providing humanitarian civic assistance throughout the Caribbean and Latin American regions.

The ship's next visit will be to Colombia.

During the four-month annual humanitarian civic assistance operation, the crew of 1,600 Sailors and Marines will provide assistance to Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Nicaragua, Panama and Suriname.

Continuing Promise is part of the Navy's Maritime Strategy, which seeks to build on relationships during times of calm and mitigating human suffering though interagency and multinational efforts.

The operation is supported by U.S. and international military medical personnel, U.S. government agencies, regional health ministries, non-governmental organizations and academic institutions.

The recent operation is the fifth conducted in the region since 2007.

After departing July 12 from their homeport of Norfolk, Iwo Jima made its first humanitarian assistance stop in the country of Haiti.

While in Haiti, Iwo Jima provided medical support, conducting approximately 25 surgeries. The surgeries included removing hernias, cataracts and cysts.

Medical doctors provided the Haitians classes on properly disposing of waste to help reduce the mosquito population and disease.

Military veterinarians provided care for animals, while engineers helped rebuild a roof on a hospital and install bathrooms in other buildings.

"I feel proud that I did something for someone else," said Air Traffic Controller 2nd Class (AW) Sherry Killough. "I'm hoping that they gain the knowledge that someone else does care and that we are doing what we can."