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| – A U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter assigned to “The Wolfpack” of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron Four Six Six (HMH-466) flies past the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) after delivering equipment to Camp Doha, Kuwait. Boxer departed for the Persian Gulf on Jan. 14, 2004 as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom rotation of forces, after returning from a regularly scheduled deployment in August 2003. The multi-purpose amphibious assault ship and its more than 900 Sailors and 200 Marines are transporting equipment and aviation assets for the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force (1st MEF) from Camp Pendleton, Calif. U.S. Navy Photo by Photographer’s Mate 3rd Class Christopher Elmini. (RELEASED) |
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Boxer Starts Marines Off Right for Operation Iraqi Freedom
Story Number: NNS040301-10
Release Date: 3/1/2004 12:39:00 PM
By Journalist 1st Class Karen M. Golembieski, USS Boxer Public Affairs ABOARD USS BOXER, At Sea (NNS) -- A little more than a month after leaving San Diego for the second time in less than a year, USS Boxer (LHD 4) arrived on station in the Persian Gulf and began offloading the aircraft, vehicles and other equipment Feb. 20-25, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The offload is part of a team effort by all services to rotate troops and equipment that have been serving in Iraq for the past year.
The offload and associated sea-based support to Marine aviation, which was scheduled to take place during a 10 day period, was accomplished for the most part in only five days due to the excellent cooperation and planning between Beach Master Unit (BMU) 1’s Echo Team, Marine Brigade Service Support Group (BSSG) 1, Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 16 and the Boxer Navy and Marine Corps team.
“Our mission was to deliver 16 helicopters and supplies that MAG-16 needed for their base of operations,” said Operations Department Leading Chief Petty Officer, Senior Chief Operations Specialist (SW/AW) James E. Marshall, 42, from Ralls, Texas. “We got short notice to deliver. The crew stepped up and did what we needed to do. They completed the mission flawlessly. We were able to do a rapid turnover and support the relief in the field to give the Army much-needed rest.”
In addition to the aircraft, 150 trucks with trailers made their way to Kuwait Naval Base via Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 5 Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) vehicles. As each LCAC came up on the landing zone and parked in its specified place, Marines and ACU-5 personnel worked swiftly to unhook all restraining chains that held the vehicles in place during the transit from Boxer to the beach. Marines then drove each vehicle into a line, where personnel from BSSG-1 inventoried the vehicles and placed them in convoys.
“From there, the vehicles are going to Udari, Kuwait,” said BSSG-1’s Pfc. Michael M. Ackers, 27, of West Plains, Mo. “Then they will be dispersed to several satellite camps.”
MAG-16 embarked aircraft units and air crew were also busy delivering tugs (aircraft towing vehicles) and equipment via CH-53E Super Stallions to Udari.
“We completed the offload faster than we had expected,” said Combat Cargo’s Marine Staff Sgt. Robert Burdine, 32, South Bend, Ind. “It was safe and efficient.”
Boxer is scheduled to return to San Diego at the end of April.
For related news, visit the USS Boxer (LHD 4) Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/lhd4.
 
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