Enterprise Sailors Honor Fallen Allies

SOUDA BAY, Greece - The USS Enterprise (CVN 65) Carrier Strike Group held a wreath-laying ceremony May 23 at the Souda Bay Allied War Cemetery to remember the sacrifices made by Greek, British, Australian and New Zealand forces in the Battle of Crete, in 1941.

Enterprise Strike Group Commander Rear Adm. Ray Spicer, accompanied by Souda Bay Commanding Officer Capt. Stephen B. Sale, Enterprise Commanding Officer Capt. Larry Rice and Enterprise Sailors joined a group of the surviving veterans of the battle and their families attending the ceremony.

Sale said it was important to remember the sacrifices made by Greece and its allies during the battle.

"We were here today to emphasize the partnership with our ally, Greece, and to recognize the contributions and sacrifices made by not only the Greek people and their military, but those allies who had come to their aid and support, including Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom," said Sale.

During Spicer's speech, he also honored those who fought in the battle.

"It is my distinct pleasure to join you here today to honor the sacrifices of the people of Greece and of her allies, and to pay tribute to the heroism of the people of Crete," Spicer said. "Winston Churchill rightly said that ‘the world will no longer say that Greeks fight as heroes, but heroes fight as Greeks.'"

The veterans come every year to remember the men who died, but with the Navy's help, this year was a little different.

"Every year, the Cretans come to remember those who fought and those who died, and we also come to remember our dead," said former Able Seaman Charles Bright, British Royal Navy. "It was very special to have the U.S. Navy here to remember them this year with us."

After the ceremony, Enterprise hosted a reception for the wreath-laying ceremony in the ship's hangar bay.