USS Wasp arrives in the Bahamas to celebrate nation’s 50th year of independence

BySeamanAmberSpeer

USS Wasp (LHD 1)

NASSAU The Bahamas

On June 28 amphibiousassaultshipUSSWasp(LHD1) arrived in Nassau, The Bahamas for a port visitaimedtocommemoratethe50thanniversaryofU.S.-TheBahamasrelationsand the50thanniversaryofBahamianindependence

Duringthevisit,U.S.NorthernCommand and U.S. Embassy Nassau will host officials fromthegovernmentoftheCommonwealth ofTheBahamasandseniormembersofthe Royal Bahamas Defense Force with an officialreceptiononboardWasptocelebratethe uniquebilateraltiesbetweenthetwonations aswellasahalf-centuryofsovereignty

“Werecognizethatourstrongpartnership is tremendously important for the national security of both nations,” said Lt Gen. A. C. Roper, deputy commander U.S. NorthernCommand.“Wecontinuetocollaborate closely to protect our shared interests and ensurethewell-beingofallourcitizens.

In the spirit of developing a connection with the local community, Wasp Sailors are scheduledtovisittheSimpsonPennCentre for Boys and the Willie Mae Pratt Centre for Girls to provide mentorship, hands-on demonstrations of several Navy skillsets, and participate in extracurricular activities suchassoccer basketballand/oranobstacle courserace

“We are thrilled to have had the opportunity to visit and experience this gorgeous nation and wonderful Bahamian people during such a historic occasion,” said Capt. NakiaCooper,Wasp’scommandingofficer HomeportedinNorfolk,Virginia,Waspis aUnitedStatesNavymultipurposeamphibious assault ship with a primary mission to support U.S. Marines in combat and to also provide disaster relief and medical support tothoseinneed

Theleadshipofherclass,sheisthetenth USNvesseltobearthenamesince1775,but certainlynotthefirstofhernamesaketovisit

The Bahamas

USS Wasp’s first trip to the whitebeachesandclearwatersofTheBahamaswasmadealmosttwo-and-a-halfcenturiesagobyawoodenhullmerchantschooner originally named Scorpion. Purchased, outfittedandcommissionedin1775 thefirst ever Wasp set sail in the company of USS Hornet, a merchant sloop From Baltimore, they sailed for the Delaware Capes to join Commodore Esek Hopkins’ squadron: the firstAmericansquadrontogettosea.

The fleet made its way to The Baha- mas, arriving at the Abaco Islands March 1, 1776. Wasp was one of two ships to cover the Marine units that stormed ashore and assisted in the taking of Fort Montague and FortNassaufromBritain.Here,theytookas much ammunition and weaponry as they couldbeforeWaspreturnedtothestatestwo weekslater

HavingrecentlytakenpartinFleetWeek New York 2023, Wasp now returns to The Bahamas This time around, the primary missionistocelebrate

In1973 theCommonwealthofTheBahamas earned its independence from Britain after 255 years of control under the Crown. OnJuly10,TheBahamaswillofficiallycelebrate its 50th anniversary of governmental independence

“The U.S. Embassy and U.S. Northern Commandarehostingareceptiononboard,” saidCapt ChrisPurcell,Waspexecutiveofficer “Notonlyarewecelebratingtheirindependence but we’re also celebrating the United States’ relationship with the Bahamiangovernment.Wasp has a special connection with The Bahamas; our presence goes back as far as the historyoftheUnitedStates.”

Thisvisitisalsoalong-awaitedreunionas the Embassy’s own Senior Defense Official

Capt. Gregg Gellman served aboard Wasp over20yearsago.

“It’s great to see the Wasp still out there buildingrelationshipswithourforeignpartners, Gellmansaid “Partofthejoyofbeing ship’s crew is waking up in a new partner’s country and sharing our experiences with each other. I find that navies all over the world speak the same language, we just do itinadifferentaccent!”

This trip is an opportunity for Wasp to grow the friendship between the United States and The Bahamas Sailors aboard Wasp are more than excited for the opportunity to see one of the islands and experienceBahamianculture

This port visit is the first time many Sailorswillgettovisitanotherpartoftheworld. It is also a milestone for Wasp, marking the firsttimetheshipisdockingataforeignport sincedepartingfromJapanin2020

“I’veneverbeenoutsidethecountry,”said Aviation Machinist Mate Airman ApprenticeAlexWells,whoremarkedhowexcited he was to be part of an organization that by trade brings its employees to all corners of the world. “I want to try their food and see what life is like there. I have no idea what I’m going to get to experience, but I can’t waittofindout.”