European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 18, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Petty officer 3rd class Stephen Johnson gives a youngster a personal tour of the Newport. Crew of the Newport wins hearts and minds of Spanish orphans making friends in Rotas amps photos by Jim Derheim by Jim Derheim staff photographer Manoli Montero has one great sea Story to Tell her friends Back Home in Chi Piona Spain. Earlier this month she was part of a 16-kid Quot invasion Quot Force that for a couple hours took control of the Crews mess Bridge and upper deck of the uss Newport. It s a Good thing for the Navy the ship was securely tied to pier 2 in the Harbor at Rota Spain. Otherwise the scaled Down Short time sailors might have sailed away with the whole ship and not just the hearts of the Navy Crew they met that Day. It. . Mike Orchard the combat information Center officer on Board the amphibious Landing vessel organized the visit with help from Pedro Diaz of Rota s Community relations office As a special treat for the children and their five adult escorts. A few Days earlier a group of five sailors and marines from the Newport which is based in Little Creek va., had completed some Light construction and remodelling at the kids Home the la resident a in Fantail san Carlos a shelter for underprivileged children. A this is a common thing for the Navy to do when its ships pull into foreign ports Quot said Orchard who doubles As the ships Public affairs officer. Quot we bring everything needed to do the Job a paint brushes and  he said the ship recently was in Haifa Israel where Crew members worked with youth offenders and did some carpentry and electrical work. Sailors also stretched their sea legs and built friendships with the Young boys by playing sports with them. Chaplain it Wesley Sloat staff chaplain for the Newport remembered one visit to Marseilles France. A the kids grew so attached to us that at the end of the visit they Laid Down in front of our  and would t let us leave Quot he said. On this visit the kids were deluged by things new and exciting. They peeked into the living areas of the ship s officers and toured the Bridge. They also lunched in the Crew s mess getting their first taste of a Quot real american cheeseburger Quot As one of the Cooks in the serving line called his double Decker. Quot Bug juice a the drink sailors love to hate but which the kids drank like water which in mostly is plus a bit of Cherry or grape Flavouring was consumed with gusto As were the Fries and ice Cream. For most though the favorite part came at the end of the visit when they saw an Aerial display featuring a huge Chinook helicopter which carried nets of cargo Slung from its belly to the Newport from the Supply ship uss Concord anchored about two Miles out of the Harbor. The Newport set sail a few Days after the kids returned to their Home in Chi Piona but for i of year old Manoli the big Gray ship will stay in the port of her memory for years to come. Quot ill never forget that i was Here a she said on the Day of her visit. Quot ill Tell everyone that i had lunch on this big ship and the people were very kind Quot chaplain it Wesley Sloat shares a secret handshake with one of the 21 visitors to the Navy amphibious Landing vessel. The children were accompanied by five adults from the Chi Piona shelter during the tour at the port in Rota Spain. The kids from the children a Home toured the Newport visiting Junior officers quarters left and lunching on cheeseburgers in the mess. Page 14 the stars and stripes wednesday March 18, 1992 the stars and stripes Page 15