GIBRALTAR – The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Dallas and the USS Dallas, both sponsored by the Dallas, Texas, Navy League, were in port together more than 4,000 miles away in Gibraltar earlier this week.
The 378-foot high endurance Coast Guard Cutter Dallas is home ported in Charleston, S.C., and is about halfway through a four-month deployment. The cutter made stops in Cape Verde, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Sao Tome and Principe, Ghana and Senegal to train and collaborate with the host nations’ navies and coast guards in support of the Africa Partnership Station program. APS is an initiative aimed to strengthen maritime safety and security in west and central Africa.
The CGC Dallas pulled into the port of Gibraltar Aug. 1, 2008, to complete some mid-deployment maintenance.
The USS Dallas is a Los Angeles class submarine stationed in Groton, Conn. The Dallas made a port stop in Gibraltar before heading home at the end of a six-month deployment, where they conducted operations in direct support of the Global War on Terrorism.
The ships departed Gibraltar together Monday, and then headed their separate ways.
“I was excited to learn that both of the ships would be in a foreign port together at the same time, which may be the first time this has happened in the history of both ships,” said Capt. Robert Wagner, Coast Guard Cutter Dallas’ commanding officer. “The camaraderie that quickly built between the two crews during our overlapping stops was impressive.”
The USS Dallas crew, taking full advantage of time outdoors and off of the submarine, challenged the CGC Dallas personnel to a softball game. Thursday afternoon, at the base of the Rock of Gibraltar, the Dallas crews played a game of softball on a soccer field and then had lunch together.
The USS Dallas and the Coast Guard Cutter Dallas leave Gibraltar together Aug. 11, 2008
US Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Lauren Jorgensen
