Community outreach onboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69)
Today I have the pleasure of hosting 16 senior military business and community leaders from Germany and France as we embark on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) aircraft carrier. The United States has a permanent and vital interest in preserving the security of our European allies, and the Eisenhower is an awesome display of our interest in that security.
My intent is to ensure these folks become acquainted with the strength and readiness of the U.S. military through personal observation and direct engagement with the Sailors working aboard Eisenhower. These 6,000 Sailors are men and women of the highest caliber the United States Navy has to offer. They perform arduous duty under the most trying conditions.
Pride is felt in every job performed by these shipmates. From the controlled chaos of the flight deck personnel that perform their ballet of precision to launch and recover our naval aircraft to the galley crews that serve thousands of meals a day. Every individual on the ship shares in this sense of pride that they are contributing to the mission of the day.
As part of EUCOM's Community Outreach Program, I hope these visitors share their firsthand observations and knowledge gained from the trip for years to come through conversations with friends family members and colleagues. I hope they tell of the great capabilities that are forged together to make carrier operations perform so well. But even more so I hope they tell of these Sailors love for what they do and belief in the security of the European region.
VADM Dick Gallagher
Deputy Commander
U.S. European Command
Comments: 3
I would like to thank you again for the opportunity to be on board the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower on the EUCOM Distinguished Visitors Day. There is no question that the trip there over southern France was an absolute delight for me as a qualified Romanist and a Francophile. The landing on the IKE and the subsequent takeoff from there are experiences that I will always remember. Especially impressive for me was the team spirit, the perfect sequence of the flight maneuvers and all the work accomplished by so many young sailors on board the IKE. It was then that I realized how little the German population in general knows about what our American friends do for all of us each day by monitoring international trade, conducting humanitarian missions, peacekeeping operations and combating terrorism around the globe, to give just a few examples. As for the future, I will make it my personal concern to continue to work for German-American understanding and friendship.
Wolfgang, thank you for your kind words. I was delighted that you were able to join us and that it was an informative and enjoyable experience for you! As the District Mayor of Stuttgart-Vaihingen, you do so much to make your American neighbors and friends, who work and live in your community, feel so very much at home. I am grateful for this and I am pleased that the trip provided you a greater understanding of what your USEUCOM neighbors do to enhance security and stability across the 51 countries within the headquarter's area of responsibility. As you mentioned, much of these efforts relies upon very young and talented service members, such as the Sailors you met aboard IKE. I am pleased that you were able to observe operations on the flight deck and witnessed how our young Sailors, with an average age of 19 years old, skillfully operated such a dangerous and complex operation. We look forward to future events and activities with leaders and citizens from the local community that will enhance their understanding of USEUCOM and extend the wonderful friendships that we enjoy.
Thank you again to Vice Admiral Gallagher for the day on board of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower . This insight into the work of the U.S. Army was an experience I will never forget. I am grateful for the opportunity to participate again and therefore I warmly wish in this way everyone involved continued success in carrying out their duties. Also I am glad to support our friendly relations in the future with all my force. Gerhard Hanus Bezirksvorsteher Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen