June 30 homecoming date announced for Kearsarge

[thedrifter]

June 30 homecoming date announced for Kearsarge

Associated Press
© June 19, 2003 | Last updated 7:39 PM Jun. 20

NORFOLK -- The amphibious assault ship Kearsarge, which had its homecoming plans disrupted because of the civil war in Liberia, will return to Norfolk Naval Station on June 30, just four days behind schedule, the Navy said today.

The ship had been scheduled to return June 26 with its 1,200 sailors, after dropping off 1,800 Marines in North Carolina. But the ship was ordered to head to the coast of Liberia last week to monitor the situation and be ready to help evacuate U.S. citizens.

The Kearsarge was ordered to head home again after a cease-fire agreement was signed in Liberia on Tuesday.

The ship is part of the Amphibious Task Force East, which deployed on short notice in January to support the war on terrorism and the war in Iraq. The ships carried more than 11,000 sailors and Marines. Only the Kearsarge was diverted and the other ships remain scheduled to drop off Marines June 22-24 in Morehead City, N.C.

On June 25, the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan and the amphibious transport dock ship USS Ponce are to return to Norfolk, while the amphibious dock landing ships USS Ashland and USS Gunston Hall will arrive at Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base in Virginia Beach. The amphibious assault ship USS Saipan is to return to Norfolk on June 26.




On the Net: http://www.kearsarge.navy.mil/

http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=55731&ran=77517


Sempers,

Roger
:marine:

[greybeard]

Better late posting than never I guess.
http://www.jdnews.com/details.cfm?StoryID=13564

Article ran : 06/21/2003
Warm welcome planned
By MATT DEES
DAILY NEWS STAFF
Area residents are being encouraged to line N.C. 24 from Morehead City to Jacksonville Sunday to greet Marines and sailors of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade.

About 5,000 troops will be returning from Iraq to Camp Lejeune and New River Air Station beginning mid-morning, said Ginny Sanderson-Brown, a Project CARE organizer.

Officials at Project CARE, the local war-time military support network, advise lining the highway from morning until almost sunset.

"Spend and hour or spend all day," a Project CARE press release urged. "But let them know you are there with signs, flags and horns."

Sanderson-Brown said there are no formal meeting times or parking assignments. Project CARE just wants as many people to come out as possible, however and whenever they can. The call also is going out to residents in Carteret County.

Organizers would like the same response into western Onslow County, particularly near Piney Green Road.

"These are the Marines and sailors who fought and supported the drive from Kuwait to Baghdad," the statement said.

Although most troops that deployed to Iraq will be landing at Camp Lejeune, some troops will be moving equipment from the state port in Morehead City to Onslow bases.

"An outpouring of visible support for them is an opportunity to express appreciation for their particular sacrifices and accomplishments, and to symbolize your support for all our dedicated servicemen who are serving throughout the world," the Project Care statement said.