The guided-missile destroyer USS Mason (DDG 87), part of the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (Ike CSG), and the embarked detachment from the Swamp Foxes of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 74 concluded a multi-day port visit to Naval Station (NAVSTA) Rota, Spain, Dec. 11. The port visit comes after Mason escorted the amphibious transport dock ship USS San Antonio (LPD 17) and embarked Marines from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) through the western Mediterranean Sea and the Strait of Gibraltar for a scheduled agricultural wash down and vehicle inspection. San Antonio spent more than 40 days supporting Operation Odyssey Lightning, conducting precision air strikes against Da'esh targets in support of Libyan forces in Sirte, Libya. "While Rota was an unscheduled visit for us due to emergent repairs, we were still able to afford many of the crew some time off," said Cmdr. Christopher J. Gilbertson, from Minneapolis, commanding officer of Mason. NAVSTA Rota is a strategically located, Spanish owned, jointly operated base that provides logical and operational support to NATO ships, aircraft and units. NAVSTA Rota's Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR), in cooperation with Mason's MWR committee, sponsored an evening of cultural fun with a tour of a bodega, wine tasting and enjoying a show of the local Flamenco dance. "This was my first time going to a Flamenco show, and I would have to say that it was the best part of the evening," said Petty Officer 1st Class (SW) Rhonda Jackson, from Columbia, S.C. "The performers gave us an outstanding show and received a standing ovation from Mason and San Antonio Sailors, as well as requests to continue dancing." Sailors and Marines also enjoyed other MWR-sponsored facilities, such as the theater, golf course, liberty center, library, bowling alley, indoor pool, fitness center and dining at the many available restaurants throughout the base. "I thought Rota was very nice," said Lt. j.g. James Snow, from Pierre, S.D. "It was a smaller town with nice weather on the coast with plenty of things for Sailors to do. The liberty center and the bowling alley were great places to go to and connect with members of their family." Sailors and Marines of Mason and San Antonio were able to enjoy and relax together while reaching out to family, friends and loved ones for the holidays while making use of NAVSTA Rota resources and facilities, such as the Navy Exchange, commissary and mail center. The Kingdom of Spain remains a very important ally to the United States for projecting military power into the Mediterranean Sea, North Africa and Middle East while sharing significant security interests. "We have had a busy deployment, with many schedule changes, and this served as a nice break for the crew," Gilbertson said. "As they have all deployment, the entire Mason crew was exemplary on liberty, and we sincerely appreciate the support of the Rota ships, base and MWR personnel, and the superb assistance we received from the maintenance team. In all, it was a very successful visit!" San Antonio is deployed as part of the Wasp Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) with the embarked 22nd MEU. Wasp ARG consists of San Antonio, amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) and amphibious dock landing ship USS Whidbey Island (LSD 41). Mason is currently deployed to support maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations. Along with Mason, Ike CSG includes the CSG 10 staff, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 26 staff, the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3, the guided-missile cruisers USS San Jacinto (CG 56) and USS Monterey (CG 61), and the DESRON 26 ships: guided-missile destroyers USS Stout (DDG 55), USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) and USS Nitze (DDG 94). U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied, joint, and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests, security and stability in Europe and Africa. For more news from USS Mason (DDG 87), visit www.navy.mil/local/ddg87 or join the conversation on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MASONDDG87/. For more news from Commander, U.S. Sixth Fleet, visit http://www.c6f.navy.mil

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