Sixth Fleet Deploys Ships in Support of Humanitarian Assistance Mission

Sixth Fleet Deploys Ships in Support of Humanitarian Assistance Mission

(NSI News Source Info) August 22, 2008: From Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet Public Affairs - NAPLES, Italy (NNS) -- Two U.S. Navy ships and a U.S. Coast Guard cutter are getting underway to transport humanitarian relief supplies to Georgia. These deployments are part of the larger United States response to the government of Georgia request for humanitarian assistance. USS McFaul (DDG 74) departed from Souda Bay, Crete, Aug. 20, and the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Dallas (WHEC 716) will leave later this week. McFaul and Dallas are scheduled to transit into the Black Sea and arrive in Georgia within a week. USS Mount Whitney (LCC/JCC 20) is currently on loading humanitarian relief materials in her homeport of Gaeta, Italy, and will proceed to Georgia later this month.The ships will deliver thousands of blankets, hygiene kits, baby food and infant care supplies to save lives and alleviate human suffering. These surface ships represent the first from the U.S. to participate in the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Georgia. Both McFaul, based in Norfolk and Dallas, based in Charleston, S.C., are on regularly scheduled deployments in the 6th Fleet area of responsibility. For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/local/naveur/.