Landing Craft Utility 1656, assigned to Assault Craft Unit 2 at Little Creek Amphibious Base in Norfolk, Va., departs for New Orleans, La., from the well deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan, Aug. 31, 2005. The craft is loaded with sand bags, water, a small flat-bottom boat, 300 lifejackets, a humvee, and supplies to last 10 days. Defense Department units are mobilizing to support the Federal Emergency Management Agency's disaster relief efforts in the Gulf Coast areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina. The U.S. Navy tasked the Bataan as the Maritime Disaster Relief Coordinator for naval rescue and relief operations in the region. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Gregory A. Roberts
THANK YOU, USS IWO JIMA!!
Fork trucks from the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima load stores from the pier to the ship prior to getting underway from Naval Station Norfolk, Va., Aug. 31, 2005. Iwo Jima and three other Hampton Roads-based amphibious ships got underway enroute to areas off the Gulf Coast as part of the Hurricane Katrina relief effort. The four ships bring with them six Disaster Relief Teams that include amphibious construction equipment, medical personnel and supplies to assist with the relief effort. U.S. Navy photo by Airman Pedro A. Rodriguez