Dallas returns home after deployment

The Coast Guard Cutter Dallas will return to its Charleston home port this morning after a four-month deployment that included taking humanitarian supplies to war-affected Georgia.

The assistance was part of a far-ranging summer mission that included the Gulf of Guinea off West and Central Africa, the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.

"Many Americans do not realize the role of the Coast Guard in representing America's maritime interests throughout the world," said Capt. Robert Wagner, commanding officer of the Dallas. "Deployments like this showcase how America's naval services work cooperatively to achieve what's important to our nation."

The Dallas was deployed under the command of the Navy's 6th Fleet based in Naples, Italy, and carried out multiple missions over the summer. The vessel was only the second U.S. military ship to take humanitarian aid to Georgia following this summer's conflict with Russia.

In that mission, the crew loaded more than 76,000 pounds of hygiene products, infant care and food items onto the ship's flight deck in Souda Bay, Crete, and delivered it Aug. 27 to Batumi, Georgia, for further distribution to those affected by the fighting.

During the first half of the deployment, the crew trained with navies and coast guards in Cape Verde, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Sao Tome and Principe and Senegal.

The trip was part of the Africa Partnership Station, a 6th Fleet initiative aimed to strengthen maritime safety and security in West and Central Africa, the Coast Guard said.

The Dallas also visited Gibraltar, Malta, Greece, Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey and Spain. Dallas crewmembers trained with maritime partners in Malta, Bulgaria and Turkey during the visits.

The Dallas is expected to remain in port for three months before departing on the next patrol.

Reach Schuyler Kropf at 937-5551 or skropf@postandcourier.com.