Emory S. Land Departs Darwin

DARWIN, NT, AUSTRALIA

09.04.2019

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Ed Thomspon

USS Emory S. Land (AS-39) 

DARWIN, Australia (NNS) – The submarine tender USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) departed Darwin, Australia following a nine-day port visit, Sept. 4.
During the visit, Sailors experienced the local culture and explored the city named after British scientist and naturalist, Charles Darwin.
“Every time I’ve been in Australia, I’ve just been overwhelmed by the friendly welcome we’ve received from everyone we meet,” said Capt. Michael D. Luckett, commanding officer of ESL.
Luckett attended the opening ceremony of Australia’s newest police station in Palmerston, Northern Territory. After the ceremony, he presented the acting commissioner of Northern Territory Police with an Emory S. Land command ball cap. He took a tour of the facility with Northern Territory police officers exemplifying the partnership between our nations.
While in Darwin, Sailors also had the opportunity to volunteer at Vinnies Depot as part of a community relations project. Vinnies is the local nickname for the St. Vincent de Paul Society an organization that helps people struggling with homelessness, unemployment, and other hardships. 
“I’ve always liked doing activities like this. I like working with people from other countries, and seeing different things,” said Hull Maintenance Technician First Class Heather L. Fleming. “We’re all people no matter where we come from and what we do.”
ESL Sailors also volunteered at the PAWS animal shelter during their visit to Darwin. At the shelter, Sailors provided assistance by improving the facility and by giving care and aid to the shelter’s animals.
Darwin was the first port call of ESL’s current deployment, which began Aug. 19. Land is deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to support theater security cooperation efforts in the Indo-Pacific region.
Guam is home to the U.S. Navy’s only submarine tenders, USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) and USS Frank Cable (AS 40), as well as four Los Angeles-class attack submarines. The submarine tenders provide maintenance, hotel services and logistical support to submarines and surface ships in the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet areas of operation. The submarines and tenders are maintained as part of the U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed submarine force and are capable of meeting global operational requirements.
For more information about USS Emory S. Land (AS 39), visit us at http://www.csp.navy.mil/emorysland/ or like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/EmorySLand, or on Twitter @EmorySLand.
For more news from USS Emory S. Land (AS 39), visit http://www.navy.mil/local/as39/.
Are you interested in taking orders to Guam? Want to learn more about the duty station and life on our island? For more information, check out the ‘Go Guam!’ website at http://www.csp.navy.mil/go-guam/ and download the ‘1st Fifteen’ checklist.