John Rodgers (DD 983) - Naval Cruise Book

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LIBERTY CALL

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VISITORS During the JOHN RODGERS many port visits we hosted a wide variety of guests. Some were friends and families of Americans who lived in the country we were visiting. Others were new friends that had been made during the ship ' s short stay. At right are some of these visitors sharing our Fourth of ]uly Picnic on the fantail. In addition to visitors, the JOHN RODGERS was a host ship for FOREXTRAMID 84. During our deployment 3 Belgians, 2 Germans, 1 Spaniard, and 2 Royal Navy officers served aboard the ship. These officers, in addition to learning about life aboard a US destroyer, taught us about life in their navies. They also provided a chance for us to improve our knowledge of their language as their English improved. Our Belgian Guests: 2EV Carlo RIICKAERT, 2EV Guido FISSERS. and 2EV Patrick HUYGHE.

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ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT The skyline of Alexandria USS JOHN RODGERS at anchor Our first port visit in the Med. Alexandria is one of the oldest seaports in recorded histoPj ' . First founded by Alexander the Great, who lays entombed there, it was the site of the Lighthouse of Pharos, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. For three centuries before Christ this city was the most heavily trafficked port in the world, serving as a clearinghouse for goods coming from the Red Sea and India. While here, most of the crew took advantage of tours to Cairo to visit another one of the Seven Wonders, the P Tamids. Other sites included the Sphinx, the King Tulankhamun exhibit, other ruins, and Sadat ' s Tomb.