European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 22, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse All aboard Navy vessel holds open House for a Day vets and visitors French sailors gather on the crowded deck of the amphibious assault ship cum docked in Cherbourg France. By Craig Martin staff writer be of the ships of the Navy s George Washington Battle group recently put out its gangplank for american War veterans and visitors in Cherbourg France. Some 160 Navy veterans on a visit sponsored by the . Navy memorial foundation joined several thousand French visitors in climbing aboard and All Over the amphibious assault ship Guam during an open ship was one of nine . Crafts providing a flotilla backdrop for a Day observances on Omaha Beach and in the Normandy american cemetery above Omaha Beach. Other warships anchored off Utah Beach and the Pointe do hoc on a Day. Visitors aboard the Guam were allowed to handle various Marine weapons and equipment including m-16s, mortar launchers night Scopes and a humvee. Visitors also got to sit in cockpits and work the controls of helicopters on display in the ship s Bay. Quot it s Good Community relations said Ensign Jeff Kelso the ship s Public information officer. Quot the people love the Navy veterans were Given a special treat they were served a meal in the mess deck where the ship s enlisted Crew if they had treated us like this in world War la and Given us food like this we d have done better Quot said Vince Kordack 71, of Laplata my. Kordack landed at Omaha Beach 50 years ago. Quot the lunches Aren t the same As they used to be Quot added Frank Walden 68, of Walnut Creek calif., who also landed at Omaha Beach. For marines and sailors aboard the ship participating in the a Day festivities and talking with the veterans were special. Quot i m proud to be Here and participate in the activities Quot said Marine sgt. Matthew Penza 24, who hails from Lantana Fla Penza had dressed up for visitors in a outfit that made him look like Sasquatch. The called a Gillie suit and is used for sniper and scout duty. Petty officer 1 St class Greg Psaltis ship s master at arms was having the a Day veterans sign a commemorative poster. Quot i m going to pass it Down to my daughter Kimberly Quot said Prattis of Dover Del. Quot it s the cum earlier had visited the English port of South Hampton where 7,000 people toured the ship. World a cooking t Marine 5 i a amps photos by Dave Casey 18 the stars and stripes wednes do
