Navy Ship Docks for Mardi Gras

Alabama Mobile A Mardi Gras tradition continues in Mobile.

by Debbie Williams

Published: Fri, February 20, 2009 - 3:02 pm CST Last Updated: Fri, February 20, 2009 - 4:06 pm CST

Mardi Gras in Mobile would not be complete without a visit from a U.S. Navy ship. This year, the USS Hawes is docked in the Port of Mobile.
Her 200 sailors are set to enjoy the city and it's festivities, while we enjoy a little bit of military history.
The 453 foot frigate does just about everything; from air and surface warfare to search and rescue missions. She has been in service 23 years and has been deployed to Kosovo, the Middle East and Northern Europe but her most obvious scar comes from a recent trip through the North Atlantic.
"We actually took a wave that slammed in to the door several hundred gallons of water equals multiple tons of force," says tour guide, Officer Pierce.
The USS Hawes has been in war zones before and when it leaves Ash Wednesday from the Port of Mobile it will be in a war zone again but this time it'll be the drug war.
"The next tour of duty she'll take will take her to South America for counter narcotics operations where we hope to stop the drug traffic coming into the United States," says Pierce.
"A special treat for us here in Mobile. It shows the importance this is a port city and I think it's a real privilege for us," says tourist Tim Claiborne. High school senior Todd Johnson agrees, "This is my first time on a Navy ship and it's a great experience. It's just a really cool thing."
The next few days will be all about fun for the crew but once back on board, it will be business as usual.
"It is a battle hardened crew. We love our job and we love what we do."

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