Nassau (LHA 4) - Naval Cruise Book

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Rota, Spain Time To Go Home Rota was a long-anticipated port call for one simple reason - it would be our last port call in the Med before heading home. Our relief, USS Iwo Jima, was on the way and due in any day. Then, our job done, it would be time to go home. And, even though liberty was limited to the confines of the naval station, there were still plenty of recreational opportunities. Softball and soccer games abounded, divisional picnics were held and everyone took the opportunity to visit the Navy Exchange and Stars 8: Stripes bookstore. Naval Station Rota even offered those amenities many sailors and Marines would consider necessary for survival - a pizzeria serving American-style pizza and a Baskin Robbins ice cream parlor that delivers! At right: LT Calloway CRD and ENS Welch take a break in the well deck. 7 l o 4 50

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,nn ' my If But, as hard as we worked while at sea, we also worked hard while off -duty. In almost every port we visited, we invited children on board - special chil- dren who brought joy to us. They spoke French, Hebrew and Spanish, but they had those things in common which all children share. They laughed and hugged and wept when they had to leave.iSome of us did, too. They came aboard excitedly to see a huge ship and aircraft that had only been pictures in books to them. But about halfway through each visit, each child would be holding a sailor's hand and there was a new bond of friendship that suddenly seemed as important as the ship around them. Maybe we filled their days with a little excitement and joy - they certainly filled ours with happiness. When they left they went back to orphanages and shelters, some because their families had thrown them away and didn't want them anymore. But they looked just like our children at home, and the world belongs to them, too. There is no question we came back from the Med better professionals because of our training. But we also came back better men because we reached out to the world. The irony is that we received so much more than we were able to give. 49

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Above: Nassau sailors and Marines look on as the Iow Jima pulls in for turnover. At left: Sailors looked to the west once the turnover in Rota was complete.