Sailors, Marines Aboard USS Bataan Enjoy MWR Trip to Gibraltar

Sailors and Marines aboard multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) enjoyed a Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) tour to the Rock of Gibraltar during a port visit to Rota, Spain, Jan. 17.

After over 300 days deployed from their homeport of Norfolk, Va., Bataan service members appreciated the chance to see a cultural landmark that many have seen only in passing during previous transits through the Strait of Gibraltar.

“I have always looked at “the Rock” as I transited by and told myself, ‘I am going to go there someday,'” said Capt. Erik Ross, Bataan commanding officer, from Appleton, Wisc., who has transited the strait eight times. “This may be the last time I get to transit the strait, so there was no time like the present. This MWR tour – and the MWR tours in general – have been outstanding. Sailors and Marines can see, and experience cultures, and history at incredibly reasonable prices. Today was the best $45 I have spent in a long while.”

In ancient times, Gibraltar was believed to be one of the two pillars of Hercules, and was said to mark the known limit of the world.

The Rock of Gibraltar is a territory of the United Kingdom and passports were required during the visit. Once in Gibraltar, Sailors and Marines enjoyed a two-hour guided tour and learned about the rock’s strategic military importance throughout history. The tour included stops to see the city’s fortifications, St. Michael’s Cave, a drive through part of the “Great Siege” tunnel network, and the chance to take panoramic shots from the lighthouse at Europa Point.

“I’m pretty outdoorsy, so I enjoyed the opportunity to explore,” said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate [Handling] Airman Even Reyes, from New York City. “The best part for me was seeing the lighthouse and being able to see Spain, Morocco, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Atlantic Ocean – all from one spot.”

“This tour was awesome,” said Cpl. Donnie Edmonston, an MV-22 Osprey mechanic from Great Falls, Mont. “My favorite part of the tour was seeing the cave. My friends and I like to go underwater cave diving and the caves reminded me of home – it’s been a long time since I’ve seen a cave like that. The tour guide was excellent and we learned a lot.”

Many Sailors and Marines were thrilled with the greeting they received from the Rock’s famous Barbary macaques near St. Michael’s cave. Several were surprised by the assertiveness of the tail-less “Rock Apes” as they approached service members and leaped on top of shoulders.

“I’ve only seen monkeys on the Discovery Channel and National Geographic,” said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate [Handling] Airman Reymond Rallos, from Las Vegas, who signed up for his first MWR tour of the deployment just so he could see the rock’s well-known primates up close. “I was surprised at how curious they are! One monkey jumped on my shoulder and was playing with the button on top of my hat.”

Several service members cited the interaction with the Barbary macaques as being one of many memorable highlights during their visit to Gibraltar.

“Those pictures with the monkey on my shoulder are sure to be a Ross family favorite from this long deployment,” said Ross.

The Bataan is the command ship of the Bataan Amphibious Ready group and deployed from her homeport of Norfolk, Va., March 23. The Bataan has spent the past nine-and-a-half months supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility.

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Naval Today Staff , January 20, 2012; Image: navy