MANDRA, Greece -- The military detachment (MILDET) aboard the USNS Trenton (T-EPF 5) participated in humanitarian relief and cleanup efforts in Mandra, Greece, one month after deadly floods resulted in 19 casualties and caused wide-spread damage across the region.
“I’m proud of my Sailors that participated,” said Navy Cmdr. Daniel Mirelez, USNS Trenton MILDET officer in charge. “Having lived through Katrina, and taking over four feet of water in my house, it was reminiscent of the catastrophic post-damage recovery. You could read the agony on the faces of the locals. They have a long way to go but I felt our small contribution provided hope and momentum to keep them moving forward.”
The November flooding in Mandra moved vehicles, displaced large debris, damaged the walls and roofing of homes and crippled infrastructure. In addition to the 19 deaths, many people were injured and left homeless.
After more than a month of recovery efforts, the area is still trying to deal with the aftermath and seeking volunteers for multiple cleanup projects. The MILDET from Trenton decided to focus their efforts on helping cleanup a local cemetery left cluttered with debris and trash. During the day, Sailors cleared pathways throughout the cemetery groves that were too narrow for heavy machinery to access and clear.
Trenton is a Military Sealift Command (MSC) spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport vessel and is augmented with an adaptive force package (AFP) comprised of U.S. Navy Military Det. personnel and equipment, known as a MILDET.
The MILDET helps foster theater security cooperation, preserve freedom of the seas, and promote peace and regional stability. Trenton is currently assigned to Commander Naval Forces Europe-Africa (CNE-CNA), and operates in the U.S. Navy’s 6th Fleet Area of Operations (AOO).