Mitscher (DDG 57) - Naval Cruise Book

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COMMUNITY RELATIONS MITSCHERMEN continued their outstanding tradition of service to the comm unity during Mediterranean Deployment 96-2. Despite the high tem- po of operations and the difficulties of doing business as usual away from home, MITSCHER ' s crew found the time to give of themselves. Our first project was carried out at the Casa Benedetti Home in Barcelona, Spain on 15-18 July. The Casa Benedetti is a home for handicapped adults adminis- trated by the Cheshire Foundation and supported by private donations. Approxi- mately 15 handicapped residents live there in an atmosphere that was caring and pleasant. We painted all of the com- mon rooms, and resurfaced both interior and exterior walls. Everyone was very kind to us and watched our efforts with interest and sometimes amusement. When we left, the director of the home thanked us for our concern and effort. The MITSCHERMEN who contributed to this project were LTjg Paetz, ENS Ry- an, ENS Cooke, FCCS(SW) Sullivan, STGC(SW) Gagnon, OSC(SW) Kennedy, EWC(SW) Haines, DCl Gray, FC2 Mc- Gr iff, OSl(SW) Oakley, OSl(SW) Stacey, OSl(SW) Fox, OSl(SW) Hinson, OSl(SW) Montane, RMl(SW) Maur- meier, DKl Gallardo, RMl(SW) Hol- loway, OS2(SW) Starks, OS2 Mondeau, RM2 Hall, EW2(SW) Soto, OS2 Ander- son, and BM3 Haskins. Our next project was performed at the Minicipal Stadium in Koper, Slovenia on 07-08 August. The municipal stadium is a complex of sports facilities centered around a track and soccer field. This proj- ect was very unusual for a community relations project. The work was extreme- ly difficult and labor intensive. The MIT- SCHERMEN sank post holes, picked up trash, enlarged the jump pit, cleared brush and whacked weeds. We did all of this while taking turns at digging The Trench. The Trench was the real project. The all volunteer MITSCHER team dug a trench around the outer edge of the track- to bury an electrical cable under cement. We fought through concrete, dirt and gravel with picks, shovels and spades. A jackhammer would have helped consid- erably. When we finished, we had dug exactly one half way around the track. The work was back breaking, but spirit and teamwork produced outstanding re- sults. The volunteers maintained good spirits and cheerfully called themselves the Chain Gang. The MITSCHERMEN who served on the Chain Gang were: OSCS(SW) Ridg- way, GMC(SW) Lopez, DCl Gray, NC1(SW?AW) Ashley, ISl Williams, RMl(SW) Doolev, RM ' I(SW) Maurieier, OSl(SW) Fox, ETl Slife, BM2 Brice, OS2 Mondeau, CTI2 Odam, RM2 Hall, OS2 Starks, EM2 Sadler, OS2 Ellis, CTR2 Howard, OS3(SW) Paz, BM3 Haskins, EM3 Carscadden, OSSN Allen, OSSN Knickelbein and OSSN Korischar. Our visit to Koper was also the occa- sion of our first Project Handclasp effort. Project Handclasp is an official CNO pro- gram established to promote mutual un- derstanding, respect and goodwill through direct people-to-people contact between Americans and citizens of other lands. Project Handclasp coordinated transportation and delivery of humani- tarian, educational and goodwill materi- als donated by private citizens through- out the United States for distribution to needy recipients in foreign countries. Typically, these materials are transported overseas aboard U.S. Navy ships on a space available basis, and distributed by Navy men and women stahoned over- seas or embarked on visiting ships. The crew of MITSCHER was selected to par- ticipate in Project Handclasp. On 9 Au- gust, 13 personnel accompanied Mr. Ir- win to distribute material. We distributed clothing to the International Red Cross, books to a local children ' s library and hygenic items to a maternity hospital. The Vce Mayor of Koper was present at each of these locations to receive our gifts. The presentations were covered by two television stations and several news- papermen. Film of the events was shown on newscasts that same day and the Vice Mayor publicly acknowledged and thanked us for our generous donations as well as our community relations work at the Municipal Stadium. The MITSCHERMEN who distributed Project Handclasp material in Koper were: LT Irwin, GMC(SW) Lopez, FCXl(SW) Whitner, FC2 Dietz, FC2 Mackanick, DK3 Miller, GMG3 Flood, SH3 Taplev, RM3 Hayes, RM3 Massey, OS3 Rogers, and RMSN Farmer. Our final community relations project was undertaken at the home for dis- placed and underpriviledged children in Naples, Italy on 12 November. This was a home for about 30 children ages 3 to 17 administered by nuns of the Sisters of Jesus the Redeemer. We trimmed hedges, cleared debris and fallen limbs, gardened and cut more than an acre of grass. Many of the children who lived there followed us, bagging up trimmings and helping in any way they could. They enjoyed our visit tremendously. In many ways this was GMMl Olivo ' s pet project. He had been stationed in Naples previously. His spirit, determination and care for these children brought this special project to- gether and made it particularly memora- ble. We also made our final distribution of Project Handclasp material the next day. We distributed clothing, books, hygenic items, paper, and gatorade to the home for displaced children where we did our community relations project and to the Sisters of Calcutta who help the home- less. The fleet USO Center in Naples was instrumental in arranging and assisting us with these deliveries. The MITSCHERMEN who donated their time in Naples were: OSCS(SW) Ridgway, FCC(SW) Potter, GMMl Olivo, RMl(SW) Maurmeier, ETl(SW) Kaster, OSl(SW) Fox, GMM2(SW) Kraft, SK2(SW) Blackman, STG3(SW) Pepin, GSM3 Thomas, OS3(SW) Wells, IC3 Henning, OS3 Duncan, SK3(SW) Haat- vedt, OSSN Allen, OSSN Mathis, and SMSN Hasbrouck. Special mention goes to SK2(SW) Blackman and SK3 Haavedt. They stored and maintained our community relations paint and Project Handclasp material. They devoted many off hours to cleaning up, reboxing and arranging paint, books and clothing. BZ and well done to all of the MIT- SCHERMEN who contributed their time and talent to represent MITSCHER and America in these causes. Their painting, plastering, digging, trimming, cutting and friendly smiles made a big difference in the lives of everyone they touched. 82

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After 173 davs, it ' s GREAT to bo back! r USS MITSCHER (DDG 57) 81

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JT: ?f C USS MITSCHER (DDG 57) 83