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San Diego assault ship Tarawa leaves today for Mideast
San Diego Union Tribune ^ | 1/6/03 | Unknown

Posted on 01/06/2003 1:46:08 PM PST by bkwells

SAN DIEGO – The San Diego-based Tarawa Amphibious Ready Group will leave today on a six-month deployment to the Western Pacific, Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean, carrying a 2,200-member Marine Corps unit from Camp Pendleton.

Although the group's departure coincides with a buildup of U.S. forces in the Persian Gulf in possible preparation for a war with Iraq, Lt. Charlie Brown, a Navy spokesman, called it a regularly scheduled "routine deployment."

Besides the USS Tarawa, an amphibious assault ship that looks like a small aircraft carrier and is used to land troops onto hostile shores, the group includes the USS Duluth, an amphibious transport dock, and the USS Rushmore, a dock landing ship. On board the ships will be more than 4,000 sailors and Marines, including the Camp Pendleton-based 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

"They're routinely deployed, sometimes with carrier battle groups and sometimes separately, as in this case," Brown said.

He would not say what the ships' role might be should the United States invade Iraq in the coming weeks.

"The president has asked us to be ready, and we're ready," Brown said. "The Tarawa Amphibious Ready Group is certainly going to serve as another one of our assets overseas, as they would on any deployment – one of the options available."

Brown offered no details on the ships' activities during the deployment, saying they would "perform whatever tasks are (deemed) necessary by the operational commanders there."


TOPICS: Breaking News; Government; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 15thmeu; duluth; marines; navy; rushmore; semperfi; tarawa
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Well my fellow FREEPERS, I'm outta here for at least 6 months. I'll try and give some inside views when I can from out here.
1 posted on 01/06/2003 1:46:08 PM PST by bkwells
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To: bkwells
Bttt
2 posted on 01/06/2003 1:49:23 PM PST by firewalk
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To: bkwells
Good luck and stay away from the bad falafel stands in Basra.
3 posted on 01/06/2003 1:49:26 PM PST by Semper Paratus
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To: bkwells
Godspeed. I'd like to add 'thank you' - but that's not nearly enough. I'll buy you a beer if'n you're ever on Chicago's South Side; for whatever that's worth...
4 posted on 01/06/2003 1:49:30 PM PST by Hegewisch Dupa
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To: bkwells
Thanks for serving.

5 posted on 01/06/2003 1:50:00 PM PST by petuniasevan
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To: bkwells
Godspeed and URRAH! URRAH!
6 posted on 01/06/2003 1:50:33 PM PST by L,TOWM
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To: bkwells; Miss Marple; JRandomFreeper
Good hunting...and God speed!
7 posted on 01/06/2003 1:52:05 PM PST by Dog
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To: getgoing
Ping
8 posted on 01/06/2003 1:52:23 PM PST by knighthawk
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To: bkwells
Stay safe!
9 posted on 01/06/2003 1:53:09 PM PST by knighthawk
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To: kayak; rintense; Wait4Truth
ping!
10 posted on 01/06/2003 1:53:40 PM PST by Dog
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To: bkwells
Stay safe, and Godspeed.

And most of all, THANK YOU.

11 posted on 01/06/2003 1:54:30 PM PST by Miss Marple
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To: bkwells
Thank you for your service!

May God bless you and keep you!

12 posted on 01/06/2003 2:00:08 PM PST by kayak
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To: bkwells
UNDERWAY! SHIFT COLORS!!
Watch out for Sea Bats!!!!
13 posted on 01/06/2003 2:00:55 PM PST by RandallFlagg
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To: Dog; bkwells
Thanks for the ping, Dog!

bk, stay safe and God bless you. Our prayers are with you!!

14 posted on 01/06/2003 2:01:10 PM PST by Wait4Truth
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To: bkwells
Thank you for your service. God bless you and defend you day by day with his heavenly grace.
15 posted on 01/06/2003 2:10:21 PM PST by jtill
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To: bkwells
Godspeed. Good Hunting. Give 'em Hell.

And don't forget, LLSS. Which may be of some interest to you, since your'e on a ship. :)

16 posted on 01/06/2003 2:12:36 PM PST by ArrogantBustard
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To: bkwells; Dog
A Huge Thank You and Farewell.
17 posted on 01/06/2003 2:14:16 PM PST by Molly Pitcher
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To: bkwells
Our prayers are with you and your families. May G-d cover you all with his protective wing and hide you in the cleft of the Mountain.
18 posted on 01/06/2003 2:15:36 PM PST by richardtavor
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Comment #19 Removed by Moderator

To: bkwells
God be with you, bkwells.
20 posted on 01/06/2003 2:21:19 PM PST by desertcry
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