Monday, 5th January 2009 - 15:46CET

Video: USS Barry to stay until January 9

Filming and editing: Paul Spiteri Lucas

The crew of the USS Barry are enjoying their stay in Malta and had a great time in Paceville last night, the ship’s captain, Commander Douglas L. Edson, told media personnel during a press tour this afternoon.

The ship arrived yesterday afternoon and will be staying here until January 9. Its visit marks the 100th anniversary of the “Great White Fleet,” a historic US Navy goodwill voyage around the world that included a stop in Malta.

The voyage reached the Mediterranean in December 1908 and offered invaluable assistance during the devastating earthquake which hit Messina at that time. It then spent between January 14 and 19, 1909 in Malta.

The ship in Malta now is the second in the Arleigh Burke class of Aegis guided missile destroyers. Its mission is to conduct sustained combat operations at sea, providing primary protection for carrier, amphibious and surface strike groups.

It conducts air defence, anti-submarine, anti-surface, and strike operations in support of peacetime presence and crisis management as well as sea control and power projection.

The ship, built 17 years ago, has been conducting operations in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea for the past five months.

In keeping with the US Navy tradition, members of the crew will be doing voluntary work with local charitable institutions during their stay. The ship will not be open to the public.

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Article © Allied Newspapers Ltd., printed on Sunday, November 22, 2009. This article is for personal use only, and should not be distributed.

Comments

Jesmond Micallef (on 7/1/09)

Where are the British Royal Navy Warships, thanks to them Valletta lost some very beautiful architecture during WW2 which is still very evident to this day....................................I have visited many European cities,beauifully reconstructed after WW2.

Maybe a helping hand and Nationalistic Pride is after all beneficial to re-construction, not to mention destruction.

I love my small little native country of mine, Malta, simply because it is small. I hope the best for my country and it's people. May God protect Malta.

Natasha Brown (on 7/1/09)

Go USA! I think that it's wonderful that the United States still honours this tradition. It is so vital to remember that we all need to lend a hand to those in need - regardless of Race, Country etc. - If we all subscribed to that mindset - perhaps world wide relations would be in a better state....
Food for thought!

Tony Gatt (on 5/1/09)

What- no protests??

Karl Abela (on 5/1/09)

The Maltese love to make a quick buck.

Zap Branagan (on 5/1/09)

Bar prices changing for foreigners? That still happens.

Brian Maloret (on 5/1/09)

Good to read that the crew of USS Barry had a great night out in Paceville but it brings back memories of when I was stationed at St Andrews Barracks at Pembroke for three years in the 1960's. At that time Malta was home to the American sixth fleet and everytime the fleet came into port the bar owners used to double their prices much to the dismay of the British military stationed here. Hope they have long abandoned that practice.