Free Republic

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Navy is moving a huge amphibious ship closer to the scene of the pirate hostage standoff off Somalia. Defense officials say the USS Boxer will be nearby soon. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss sensitive ship movements. The Boxer is the flag ship for a multination anti-piracy task force. The Boxer resembles a small aircraft carrier. It has a crew of more than 1,000, a mobile hospital, missile launchers and about two dozen helicopters and attack planes. Two other Navy ships are expected to remain much closer to...

Story Number: NNS040324-08 Release Date: 3/25/2004 9:40:00 AM By Journalist 1st Class Todd Macdonald, Logistics Group Western Pacific Public Affairs SINGAPORE (NNS) -- While nothing can replace family and friends on the pier for Sailors and Marines returning from deployments, the crew of the San Diego-based USS Boxer (LHD 4) had arguably the next best thing waiting for them pierside March 21 - pallets of Girl Scout cookies —enough for everyone aboard. Local Girl Scouts, acting on behalf of their counterparts from the San Diego-Imperial chapter and its Operation Thin Mint (OTM) initiative, delivered 310 cases of cookies, along with...