Ships Deploy to Support Georgia Humanitarian Assistance Mission (TONK, there's a USCG Cutter too!)

American Forces Press Service ^

[SandRat]

NAPLES, Italy, Aug. 21, 2008 – Two Navy ships and a Coast Guard cutter are transporting humanitarian relief supplies to Georgia.

Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Jeff Weaver and Petty Officer 2nd Class Gary Smith prepare humanitarian aid supplies for loading aboard USS McFaul at Souda Bay, Crete, Aug. 20, 2008. Nearly 55 tons of supplies were loaded as part of the humanitarian assistance for the Georgia following the conflict between Russian and Georgian forces in the former Soviet republic. U.S. Navy Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Eddie Harrison   
(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

These deployments are part of the larger United States response to the government of Georgia request for humanitarian assistance, U.S. 6th Fleet officials said.

USS McFaul departed from Souda Bay, Crete, yesterday, and the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Dallas will leave later this week. McFaul and Dallas are scheduled to transit into the Black Sea and arrive in Georgia within a week.

The crew of the USS Mount Whitney is loading humanitarian relief materials in the ship’s homeport of Gaeta, Italy, and will proceed to Georgia later this month, officials said.

The ships will deliver thousands of blankets, hygiene kits, baby food and infant-care supplies to save lives and alleviate human suffering, officials said.

These surface ships represent the first from the United States to participate in the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Georgia. Both McFaul, based in Norfolk, Va., and Dallas, based in Charleston, S.C., are on regularly scheduled deployments in the 6th Fleet area of responsibility.

(From a U.S. Naval Forces Europe/U.S. 6th Fleet news release.)

Related Sites:
U.S. Naval Forces Europe/U.S. 6th Fleet

Able Seaman Frank Santana, a Military Sealift Command civilian stationed on USS Mount Whitney, moves pallets of humanitarian relief supplies aboard the ship at Gaeta, Italy, Aug. 19, 2008. Mount Whitney is taking part in the larger United States response to the government of Georgia request for humanitarian assistance. The ship will deliver thousands of blankets, hygiene products, baby food and infant care supplies. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Rosa Larson   Download screen-resolution    Download high-resolution

[SandRat]

Tonk, it’s the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Dallas

[NonValueAdded]

Tonk Memorial CG bump

[Calpernia]

God Bless Him. His spirit still stands post.

FROM THE OTHER SIDE
By Patrick Camunes

At first there was no place for us to go until someone put up that Black Granite Wall. Now, everyday and night, my Brothers and my Sisters wait to see the many people from places afar file in front of this Wall. Many stopping briefly and many for hours and some that come on a regular basis. It was hard at first, not that it's gotten any easier, but it seems that many of the attitudes towards that war that we were involved in have changed. I can only pray that the ones on the other side have learned something and more Walls as this one needn't be built.

Several members of my unit and many that I did not recognize have called me to the Wall by touching my name that is engraved upon it. the tears aren't necessary but are hard even for me to hold back. Don't feel guilty for not being with me, my Brothers. This was my destiny as it is yours, to be on that side of the Wall.

Touch the Wall, my brothers, so that we can share in the memories that we had. I have learned to put the bad memories aside and remember only the pleasant times that we had together. Tell our other Brothers out there to come and visit me, not to say Good-Bye, but to say Hello and be together again, even for a short time and to ease that pain of loss that we all share.

Today, an irresistible and loving call comes from the Wall. As I approach, I can see an elderly lady and as I get closer, I recognize her......It's Momma! As much as I have looked forward to this day, I have also regretted it because I didn't know what reaction I would have.

Next to her, I suddenly see my wife and immediately think how hard it must have been for her to come to this place and my mind floods with the pleasant memories of 30 years past. There's a young man in a military uniform standing with his arm around her.....My God! It's...it has to be my son. Look at him trying to be the man without a tear in his eye. I yearn to tell him how proud I am, seeing him standing tall, straight and proud in his uniform.

Momma comes closer and touches the Wall and I feel the soft and gentle touch I had not felt in so many years. Dad has crossed to this side of the wall and through our touch, I try to convey to her that Dad is doing fine and is no longer suffering or feeling pain. I see my wife's courage building as she sees Momma touch the Wall and approaches and lays her hand on my waiting hand. All the emotions, feelings and memories of three decades past flash between our touch and I tell her that it's all right. Carry on with your life and don't worry about me......I can see as I look into her eyes that she hears and understands me and a big burden has been lifted from her.

I watch as they lay flowers and other memories of my past. My lucky charm that was taken from me and sent to her by my CO, a tattered and worn teddy bear that I can barely remember having as I grew up as a child and several medals that I had earned and were presented to my wife. One of them is the combat Infantry Badge that I am very proud of and I noticed that my son is also wearing this medal. I had earned mine in the jungles of Vietnam and he had probably earned his in the deserts of Iraq.

I can tell that they are preparing to leave and I try to take a mental picture of them together, because I don't know when I will see them again. I wouldn't blame them if they were not to return and can only thank them that I was not forgotten. My wife and Momma near the Wall for one final touch and so many years of indecision, fear and sorrow are let go. As they turn to leave I feel my tears that had not flowed for so many years, form as if dew drops on the other side of the Wall.

They slowly move away with only a glance over their shoulder. My son suddenly stops and slowly returns. He stands straight and proud in front of me and snaps a salute. Something makes him move to the Wall and he puts his hand upon the Wall and touches my tears that had formed on the face of the wall and I can tell that he senses my presence there and the pride and the love that I have for him. He falls to his knees and the tears flow from his eyes and I try my best to reassure him that it's all right and the tears do not make him any less of a man. As he moves back wiping the tears from his eyes, he silently mouths, God Bless you, Dad..... God Bless, YOU, Son..... We WILL meet someday but in the meanwhile, go on your way..... there is no hurry..... There is no hurry at all.

As I see them walk off in the distance, I yell out to THEM and EVERYONE there today, as loud as I can, .......THANKS FOR REMEMBERING and as others on this side of the Wall join in, I noticed that the US Flag that so proudly flies in front of us everyday, is flapping and standing proudly straight out in the wind today... THANK YOU ALL FOR REMEMBERING.

[Jeff Head]

The USS McFaul is a heavy hitter. An AEGIS Destroyer, very good at anti-sub work, anti-surface work, and outstanding at anti-air.

USS McFaul DDG 74

The USS Mt. WHitney, is a large Command and Control ship, with l;ots of room for supplies of all types to support an emergency evacuation of thousands of people and can make over 100,000 gallons of fresh water a day.

As a Command Control, Communications, Computer, and Intelligence (C4I) vessels, she is a very critical asset to the US Navy. Considered by some to be the most sophisticated C41 ship ever commissioned, Mount Whitney incorporates various elements of the most advanced C4I equipment on earth and gives the embarked Joint Task Force Commander the capability to effectively command all units in the Joint Task Force.

USS Mount Whitney

The USCGC Dallas (WHEC-716) is a Hamilton class, high endurace cutter of the US Coast guard. These vessels are outstanding at marittime interdiction, port security, and Search and Rescue missions.

USCGC Dallas

Along with the Canadian and Polish vessels in transit (and I am not sure yet which vessels they are sending) this task force will be well equipped for Humanitarian support, and for defending themselves if necessary. .

[caisson71]

out of Charleston, SC?

[SandRat]

Yep.

[Jeff Head]

She’s in Greece right now making a Port call. Charleston is her home port, but she is already deployed to the Med.

[caisson71]

Coasties involved. Good to use all our assets.

[IrishCatholic]

It’ll be a test of what Russia is prepared to do in the Black Sea.

[Alas Babylon!]

Question:

What port in Georgia will they sail to? My understanding is that the Russians are hunkered down and occupying Georgia's only big port, Poti. Surely we're not going to unload there? I had read that the Russians are digging trenches and siting missiles in Poti and the surrounding roads from it. Will we fight through the Russians then to get the Georgians these supplies?

[Jeff Head]

The Russians signed an agreement to be out of those areas...and their President committed to being back to the security zones by Friday. The US is acting in good faith like the Russians will keep their commitment and is planning to help the Georgians accordingly.

The US is apparently intent and willing to show the Russians that we mean business by sending major combatant naval vessels to make the point.

I guess we will see in the next few days.

[El Gato]

Interesting choices of ships to deliver "Humanitarian Relief". Two warships (The Dallas is a warship, just look at her deck gun) and an armed C4I platform (See the "R2D2" 20mm CIWS Gatling guns on the bow. She also mounts MK 38 25mm guns and Ma Duece .50 cals. No tankers, no sealift ships, not even the Comfort or the Hope. I expect that the McFall could do a good job of protecting the Georgian port where the group puts in from air attack.

Do we know that the Turks are going to let them through the Bosporus and Dardanelles?

[Stonewall Jackson]

The McFaul is a Burke Flight II, which should mean that it has eight Harpoon anti-ship missiles. Does she still have these missiles onboard and does she carry any anti-ship Tomahawks?

Also, the Dallas is a veteran of seven combat patrols off the Vietnamese coast, where she took part in 161 fire-support missions, resulting in the destruction of fifty-eight enemy sampans and twenty-eight supply depots.

[justa-hairyape]

Perhaps will we see more of this. Video from 1968. Russian TU-16 makes 2 passes over the US Aircraft Carrier Essex. It attempted a third pass and crashed at sea. Note - Narrative is in Russian.

YouTube Video of TU-16 Fly Over 1968

[Brad’s Gramma]

Thanks, SandRat!!!

[nw_arizona_granny]

FROM THE OTHER SIDE
By Patrick Camunes<<<

Thank you for this post.

I had not read it before.

[nw_arizona_granny]

Thank you for pinging me.

[MarMema]

post 5 has pics of our ships coming your way soon. I understand they have passed Istanbul already....

[MarMema]

Let’s hope they do what they said they would this time.