Edwin Galea, Sliema
Visits by US Navy vessels in Malta
USS Kearsarge in Malta – original watercolour by Edwin Galea
Standing on the deck of USS Laboon in the Grand Harbour on September 3 as the guest of Cdr. Donald J. Donegan, I reflected on the many connections Malta has had with the US Navy during the last 200 years.
It all started back in 1804 when the USS Constitution, under the command of Commodore Edward Preble, had special permission from Admiral Sir Charles Bickerton RN to use Malta as his base for his operations during the Tripolitan War. Commodore Preble’s campaign resulted in a Treaty of Peace drafted on board the Constitution in 1805. During this campaign, Maltese sailors served on board the Constitution and later settled in the US.
A hundred years later, Teddy Roosevelt’s Great White Fleet, which comprised of 16 battleships, started a 14-month voyage around the world. In 1907, Malta was honoured by the visit of three battleships.
The Kearsarge, the Wisconsin and the Illinois visited Malta in 1909. In January 2009, the USS Barry came to Malta to commemorate the centenary of this event.
Another connection with the US Navy was when, in April and May 1942, the aircraft carrier USS Wasp was used to ferry Spitfires to Malta during World War II. She never physically entered the Grand Harbour but the Wasp was the main reason Malta could fight on during the siege. Then, in 1942, we had the Ohio saga, another American-built ship that literally saved Malta from capitulation.
In 1945, the cruiser USS Quincy brought President Franklin D. Roosvelt to Malta on his way to the Yalta conference. Meetings between the American President and Winston Churchill took place on board in the Grand Harbour. Finally came the historic Malta Summit in 1989 when the cruiser USS Belknap was used as a base for President George Bush during the summit conference.
Malta’s history is richer due to its connection with the American Navy.
The USS Laboon is the first USN ship to visit Malta’s shores this year. What used to be the norm has become the exception with ship visits becoming much less frequent and far apart.
Although such courtesy visits are frowned upon for various reasons and beliefs, yet, they can only strengthen our excellent relations with the US while benefitting the island economically. Community work by their crews and joint exercises with the Armed Forces of Malta are assets which cannot be ignored.
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T Camilleri
Sep 15th 2010, 12:58
John Vella SYD very good suggestion
John Vella SYD.
Sep 15th 2010, 10:40
Just as a matter of interest, i wonder if we the maltese would charge the visiting Yaks the 10€ they are charging us for visiting their country.? Its a thought though, what goes round comes around as they say down under.
Steven Camilleri
Sep 15th 2010, 13:01
Do you go painting some old people's homes when you visit the US ? Do you go helping some Dar tal Providenza when you go over there ? I would have these chap anytime cause besides leaving a lot of money these sailors do a lot of good deeds over here not the mention the good deeds they do whenever they embark on some military mission .
Paul Debattista
Sep 15th 2010, 15:05
Steven Camilleri leaving a lot of money? For prostitutes perhaps, but it has been known that the US sailors are the worst when it comes to spending. They are known even to take bottles of Coke ashore with them so as not to buy from locals.
Melissa Bagley
Sep 15th 2010, 19:54
Paul, my father was a US sailor - niehu il-kumment tieghek bhala nsult? Don't generalise.
Pule' Carmel
Sep 15th 2010, 20:33
The fact that," ..........but it has been known that the US sailors are the worst when it comes to spending. They are known even to take bottles of Coke ashore with them so as not to buy from locals." I do not think that a decent and responsible US sailor( or any other) in Malta working to keep his own family back in his own country, is expected to drink and spend his wages away on various entertainments and drinks as the stupid ones normally do!! When I was in England, the British did not expect me to spend my money drinking beer in pubs or chasing prostitutes. The little money I had , I saved to pay for my fees at University and to pay for my accomodation, and the little,very little left I sent to my parents. I was so proud that my mother bought the first settee and comfortable chairs using the little money I sent her. After the war Malta recovered slowly but I spent little inEngland, I used my money to pay university an d pay the post for the many letters I sent. So Perhaps US sailors spent little money inMalta,because they were more responsible than the British!!