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Royal Canadian Navy Rear Adm. David Patchell, vice commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet, shakes hands with Cmdr. Christopher W. Van Loenen, commanding officer of the Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44) as the ship returns from supporting the largest NATO exercise in decades, Steadfast Defender 2024, April 11, 2024. During Steadfast Defender, Gunston Hall operated alongside Italian amphibious ships and a French Frigate. Gunston Hall carried out high-end amphibious operations with embarked French, Finnish and Swedish forces, all while under an Italian Amphibious Task Force, operating in Norwegian waters in the High North. The ship and crew demonstrated U.S. steadfast commitment to NATO and the U.S. Navy’s ability to integrate with Allied forces. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Porsha Thompson)