Guided-Missile Frigate USS Carr Arrives in Gdynia, Poland

The guided-missile frigate USS Carr (FFG 52) arrived in Gdynia, Poland, Aug. 15, as part of a regularly scheduled port visit supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the region.

While inport, Carr leadership will attend office calls with senior Polish military officials, hold a reception onboard for Polish and U.S. dignitaries, and Sailors will conduct a community relations project at a local orphanage.

For Carr’s commanding officer Cmdr. Patrick Kulakowski, this visit marks the first time in four generations that a member of his family has returned to Poland since immigrating to the U.S. in the late 1800s.

“This is a great opportunity for me to finally return to the home of my ancestors,” said Kulakowski. “I hope to get the opportunity to travel an hour South of Gdynia, to visit the former home of my relatives.”

Kulakowski said that the ship’s entire crew is looking forward to visiting the many historic sites in Gdynia.

Carr Sailors will also compete in a soccer game with Polish navy sailors, and attend a reception aboard Okret Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej Kosciuszko, a former U.S. Navy Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate.

Carr is homeported in Norfolk, Va., and is on a scheduled three-month deployment in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility.

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Source: navy, August 19, 2011;