Photos below
US Ambassador
Martin J. Silverstein, along with Uruguayan officials, representatives
of the diplomatic corps and the media, visited US Navy vessel
USS Stump, anchored in the Maldonado bay area after participating
in the UNITAS operations.
The group included Secretary
of the Presidency Dr. Raúl Lago, Minister of Public
Health Dr. Conrado Bonilla, Under-Secretary of the Interior
Dr. Daniel Borrelli, Senator Pablo Millor, Maldonado Mayor
Ing. Enrique Antía, representatives of diplomatic
missions and high-ranking officials of the Uruguayan navy.
Ambassador Silverstein declared
he was proud that the USS Stump and USS Bradley –
anchored at the Port of Montevideo- were in Uruguay because
it shows the cooperation that exists between Uruguay and
the United States. He added that UNITAS operations are a
clear example of the cooperation between navies of different
countries and also pointed out that the crews had participated
in two community projects: the cleaning of the monument
of Franklin D. Roosevelt and painting the Martin Luther
King School.
Ship Commander Thomas P. Snyder,
welcomed the visitors. He said that they were in Punta del
Este after having completed the first phase of UNITAS exercises
and following a visit to Panama, Colombia, Chile, Argentina
and Uruguay. He added that the naval exercises had been
a success.
Among the visitors was Uruguayan
Navy Captain Ruben Varela who, 18 years ago, participated
in UNITAS operations navigating USS Stump. Varela said the
ship was operational and that he had had a valuable experience
with officers of other navies. He said the only thing missing
at the ship was its mascot, a parrot named Felix, which
had recently passed away and whose name was in honor of
Admiral Felix B. Stump.
The destroyer Stump was launched
Aug. 19, 1978. From its beginning, two words have described
it well: excellent performance. Destroyers are considered
to be the most versatile ships the Navy has; they are able
to carry out diverse missions such as escorting fleets to
protecting aircraft carriers from submarine, air or land
attacks. The vessel has a crew of 300 persons and its armament
includes Tomahawk and Arpon missiles and MK 45 canyons as
well.
