American Sailor returns home to Egypt
11/9/2009
by Ens. Ian McMenamin, USS Rentz
ALEXANDRIA, Egypt (NNS) -- A Sailor from the Perry-class frigate USS Rentz (FFG 46) was reunited with family members from hometown of Alexandria on Oct. 9.

For most Sailors, departure day for deployment means saying goodbye to loved ones. For Boatswain's Mate Seaman Moutaz Alakrash, Rentz' deployment with the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG) brought him back home for the first time in three years.

"They were so surprised and proud," said Alakrash.

Alakrash was born in Alexandria where he lived with his family just prior to immigrating to the United States two years ago. He joined the U.S. Navy and became an American citizen a few weeks prior to Rentz deploying July 31.

Alakrash is a boatswain's mate aboard Rentz working in Deck Division. He stands watch on the bridge as helmsman and lookout and assists in line handling during underway replenishments and small boat evolutions.

During the transit into the port of Alexandria, Alakrash translated navigation instructions between Rentz' Commanding Officer, Cmdr. David Glenister and the Egyptian harbor pilot.

At the end of the three-day port visit, Alakrash's family hosted a farewell dinner in their home for Glenister and some crew members.

"I was so proud to come home and to have members of the city I grew up in come on board the ship I work on," said Alakrash. "It was even more amazing than I had anticipated … words cannot describe."

Rentz was participating in Bright Star, a multinational training exercise in Egypt. It is one of the largest joint exercises in the world that includes air, ground and naval elements, and is designed to build cooperation and readiness through training with partner nations including Egypt, Greece, Turkey and the United States.

Nimitz CSG, commanded by Rear Adm. John W. Miller, is comprised of USS Nimitz (CVN 68), embarked Carrier Air Wing 11, embarked Destroyer Squadron 23, and the Ticonderoga-class cruiser USS Chosin (CG 55). Ships assigned to DESRON 23 include the destroyers USS Pinckney (DDG 91), USS Sampson (DDG 102) and Rentz.

Squadrons from CVW 11 include the "Black Aces" of Strike Fighter Squadron 41, the "Tophatters" of VFA 14, the "Warhawks" of VFA 97, the "Sidewinders" of VFA 86, the "Indians" of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 6, the "Black Ravens" of Electronic Attack Squadron 135, the "Providers" of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 30 and the "Wallbangers" of Carrier Airborne Command and Control Squadron 117.

Helicopter detachments include the "Easy Riders" of Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron Light 37, the "Battle Cats" of HSL 43, the "Wolfpack" of HSL 45, the "Scorpions" of HSL 49 and the "Wildcards" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 23. Also accompanying the Nimitz CSG are Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 11 and the USNS Bridge (T-AOE 10).

The Nimitz CSG is on a routine deployment to the region. Operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Operations are focused on reassuring regional partners of the United States' commitment to security, which promotes stability and global prosperity.