thedrifter
05-13-03, 01:33 PM
Kearsarge Commences 2-MEB Backload
Story Number: NNS030509-04
Release Date: 5/9/2003 12:04:00 PM
By Journalist 3rd Class Shauna Garbiack, USS Kearsarge Public Affairs
ABOARD USS KEARSARGE (NNS) -- Feb. 15, USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) began off-loading the Marines from the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade into Kuwait for, at that time, an uncertain future. May 6, 81 days later, the multipurpose amphibious assault ship is starting to bring the Marines back aboard, victorious in war, heroes in the Sailors’ eyes.
In all, approximately 1,600 Marines will make their way from central Iraq back to a naval base in Kuwait, carrying, riding and towing almost 200,000 pounds of cargo. The back-load will take almost a week to complete and the goal is crystal clear – ensure everyone and everything is brought back aboard safely.
Hauling office equipment, chemical, biological and radiological (CBR) suits, tent equipment and tons of other items, the back-load is a massive undertaking. All totaled, about 120 vehicles will fill the upper and lower vehicle stowage areas from front to back. In addition, the ship will carry about 20 aircraft on the flight deck, and the aviation parts will fill the hangar bay. All other general equipment will be squeezed into every available corner. The ship will be heading home full.
One of the most critical stops along the long path from Iraq to Kearsarge is the wash rack area at the naval base. Each vehicle must be thoroughly washed and pass a very critical agricultural inspection before it is cleared for movement to the ships.
“Without that certification from the inspector, we can’t get back into the States,” said Combat Cargo Officer Capt. Israel Garcia. “They have to rinse down every piece of equipment using steam cleaners…put the vehicles up on ramps, and clean under and all around them.”
While the majority of the Marines will be flown to Kearsarge via CH-46 Sea Knight and CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters, all the heavy equipment and vehicles will travel by Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCACs) from Assault Craft Unit 4. Kearsarge carries three LCACs, and they will operate each day bringing load after load from the beach to the well deck of the ship.
When people speak of the Navy and Marine Corps Team, you can’t find a better example of what that means than during the off-load and back-load stages of an amphibious operation. Teamwork is the key to ensuring everything makes it aboard the ships safely.
Once the Marines and all their equipment are back aboard Kearsarge, the six ships from Amphibious Task Force East will begin their long journey home. The ship will have more than 3,000 Sailors and Marines aboard.
The Marines returning to Kearsarge from war is extremely significant. For the vast majority of the Marines, they have lived for nearly three months in conditions that are extremely difficult. A hot meal, a hot shower (or any shower), laundry, clean linen, a rack, television, e-mail…they deserve to have everything available to them immediately, and the crew of Kearsarge is doing everything they can to ensure they return to the very best environment possible.
“The big thing we need to do is make them feel welcome,” said Commanding Officer Capt. Terry McKnight. “Welcome them back with open arms. They are the real heroes…make sure that the computers, and libraries are up and running, and give them a good place to relax. We will also provide counseling, if desired, for their losses.”
If there is an overshadowing bond that makes the Navy-Marine Corps Team so invincible, it’s the deep respect for each other’s mission. Kearsarge gave a group of Marines a ride to Iraq…and Kearsarge is coming home with a team of heroes.
http://www.news.navy.mil/management/photodb/thumbnails/thumb_030506-N-2382W-034.jpg
030506-N-2382W-034 The Arabian Gulf (May 6, 2003) -- Marines return to the multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) from Iraq. The Marines are among the very first to return to Kearsarge after 81 days ashore. They will be joined by more than 1,500 other members of the Second Marine Expeditionary Brigade (2-MEB). Kearsarge is deployed to the Arabian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the multi-national coalition effort to liberate the Iraqi people, eliminate Iraq's weapons of mass destruction and end the regime of Saddam Hussein. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate Airman Apprentice Finley Williams. (RELEASED)
Sempers,
Roger
Story Number: NNS030509-04
Release Date: 5/9/2003 12:04:00 PM
By Journalist 3rd Class Shauna Garbiack, USS Kearsarge Public Affairs
ABOARD USS KEARSARGE (NNS) -- Feb. 15, USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) began off-loading the Marines from the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade into Kuwait for, at that time, an uncertain future. May 6, 81 days later, the multipurpose amphibious assault ship is starting to bring the Marines back aboard, victorious in war, heroes in the Sailors’ eyes.
In all, approximately 1,600 Marines will make their way from central Iraq back to a naval base in Kuwait, carrying, riding and towing almost 200,000 pounds of cargo. The back-load will take almost a week to complete and the goal is crystal clear – ensure everyone and everything is brought back aboard safely.
Hauling office equipment, chemical, biological and radiological (CBR) suits, tent equipment and tons of other items, the back-load is a massive undertaking. All totaled, about 120 vehicles will fill the upper and lower vehicle stowage areas from front to back. In addition, the ship will carry about 20 aircraft on the flight deck, and the aviation parts will fill the hangar bay. All other general equipment will be squeezed into every available corner. The ship will be heading home full.
One of the most critical stops along the long path from Iraq to Kearsarge is the wash rack area at the naval base. Each vehicle must be thoroughly washed and pass a very critical agricultural inspection before it is cleared for movement to the ships.
“Without that certification from the inspector, we can’t get back into the States,” said Combat Cargo Officer Capt. Israel Garcia. “They have to rinse down every piece of equipment using steam cleaners…put the vehicles up on ramps, and clean under and all around them.”
While the majority of the Marines will be flown to Kearsarge via CH-46 Sea Knight and CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters, all the heavy equipment and vehicles will travel by Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCACs) from Assault Craft Unit 4. Kearsarge carries three LCACs, and they will operate each day bringing load after load from the beach to the well deck of the ship.
When people speak of the Navy and Marine Corps Team, you can’t find a better example of what that means than during the off-load and back-load stages of an amphibious operation. Teamwork is the key to ensuring everything makes it aboard the ships safely.
Once the Marines and all their equipment are back aboard Kearsarge, the six ships from Amphibious Task Force East will begin their long journey home. The ship will have more than 3,000 Sailors and Marines aboard.
The Marines returning to Kearsarge from war is extremely significant. For the vast majority of the Marines, they have lived for nearly three months in conditions that are extremely difficult. A hot meal, a hot shower (or any shower), laundry, clean linen, a rack, television, e-mail…they deserve to have everything available to them immediately, and the crew of Kearsarge is doing everything they can to ensure they return to the very best environment possible.
“The big thing we need to do is make them feel welcome,” said Commanding Officer Capt. Terry McKnight. “Welcome them back with open arms. They are the real heroes…make sure that the computers, and libraries are up and running, and give them a good place to relax. We will also provide counseling, if desired, for their losses.”
If there is an overshadowing bond that makes the Navy-Marine Corps Team so invincible, it’s the deep respect for each other’s mission. Kearsarge gave a group of Marines a ride to Iraq…and Kearsarge is coming home with a team of heroes.
http://www.news.navy.mil/management/photodb/thumbnails/thumb_030506-N-2382W-034.jpg
030506-N-2382W-034 The Arabian Gulf (May 6, 2003) -- Marines return to the multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) from Iraq. The Marines are among the very first to return to Kearsarge after 81 days ashore. They will be joined by more than 1,500 other members of the Second Marine Expeditionary Brigade (2-MEB). Kearsarge is deployed to the Arabian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the multi-national coalition effort to liberate the Iraqi people, eliminate Iraq's weapons of mass destruction and end the regime of Saddam Hussein. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate Airman Apprentice Finley Williams. (RELEASED)
Sempers,
Roger