San Diego assault ship Tarawa leaves today for Mideast

San Diego Union Tribune ^ | 1/6/03 | Unknown

[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.

Tarawa's leaders pronounce themselves 'ready to go' Cable-DSL / 56k The FREE RealPlayer plug-in is necessary to play RealMedia. Related stories Ship celebrates family as storm clouds gather Marines well-suited for battle?

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."

[The Shrew]

I was on the Belleau Wood for the maiden WESPAC in 81,

Race, Buddy, Fellow Marine, Hey it's been over 20 - TWENTY - years! Since our Westpac Days! You give a young Marine/Sailor directions like this they're likely to have a man overboard drill!

However, you sir are a star and since I was on the Tarawa in 1983 I would wish this Freeper - Fair Winds and Following Seas!

Semper Fi!

TS

[Ramius]

Look underneath the catwalk entrance right outside of the troop compartment, there is a gunwhale where the mess crew takes smoke breaks. Fill up some small garbage bags with water, swing the bags over the railing and onto the gunwhale, and soak those smokers! Funniest thing I ever did on an LHA!

It figures that you would think that was funny. Messcooks have a crummy job, cleaning up the dishes and pots and pans for the likes of you all day and all night. After getting crapped on by the crew all that time, they take a couple of minutes outside for a break and you think it's just a riot to douche them with water bags. It figures.

They're serving their country too, nitwit, even though they are your hated "smokers".

[squirt]

I have your back. Would like to go with you if not so old and broken down.

B Co 3rd Recon Bn.

[Dubya]

Great Idea

You may have heard in the news that a couple of Post Offices in TX
have been forced to take down small posters that say
"IN GOD WE TRUST".

The law that they say that they are violating is something silly about electioneering posters.

(is God running for office?) Anyway, I heard proposed on a radio station show,
that we all write
"IN GOD WE TRUST"
on the back of all our mail.
After all, that is our national motto,
and on all the money we use to buy those stamps.

I think it is a wonderful idea.
We must take back our nation
from all the people that think that anything that offends them should be removed.

If you like this idea, please pass it on, and DO IT.

God Bless America

[dcwusmc]

Speaking of sea bats, I recall when I was on a float aboard USS. Guam in '68. Some of the squids had a box with a sea bat on the hangar deck. One grunt (one of McNamara's 100,000) took about three swats before he caught on... or maybe he didn't catch on after all. To this day I am not real sure...

[Brad’s Gramma]

God's blessings. We'll be praying for you. Thank you for all you're doing to help this great country stay safe.

[homeschool mama]

prayers heavenward for your protection, bk. Bless your heart...and *thank you* for serving this wonderful country in this way. <><

[RandallFlagg]

I used to write, "Gun Owner" on currency with arrows pointed at Washington, Lincoln, Jackson and Hamilton.

[Centurion2000]

Semper Fi

2MARDiv 5/10 Artillery Desert Storm '91

Give em Hell.

[Mudboy Slim]

Our prayers are with you, my FRiend...we KNOW y'all will do this Nation PROUD!!!

Utmost FReegards...MUD

[Dubya]

[Dubya]

LOL

[Dubya]

DISCOURAGED?

As I was driving home from work one day, I stopped to watch a local Little
League baseball game that was being played in a park near my home. As I
sat down behind the bench on the first-baseline, I asked one of the boys
what the score was.

"We're behind 14 to nothing," he answered with a smile.

"Really," I said. "I have to say you don't look very discouraged."

"Discouraged?" the boy asked with a puzzled look on his face. "Why should
we be discouraged? We haven't been up to bat yet."

Author Unknown


I challenge you today to see yourself as the victorious one no matter how
defeated or discouraged you may feel. It is important that we have the
mind of victory and not ponder the thoughts of defeat. The enemy knows
that the more time we think of life in a negative way, the closer he will
be in discouraging us and in turn keeping us from Victory. God says that
we are mighty through Christ and that No weapon formed against us shall
prosper. God has made the promise of victory, but we need to receive that
word and see ourselves as victors regardless of how defeated we may feel
right now. (2 Corinthians 10:3-5) (Isaiah 54:17) (1 Samuel 30:5-6)

In the Old Testament, God helped bring victory to Joshua by stopping the
sun from setting, which helped Joshua's army defeat the enemy that was
coming against them. Joshua prayed a simple prayer and said, "Our Lord,
make the sun stop in the sky over Gibeon, and the moon stand still over
Aijalon Valley." God heard and answered his prayer as the following verses
declare, "The sun stopped in the middle of the sky, and it did not set as
on a normal day. The LORD fought for Israel that day. Never before or
since has there been a day like that one, when the Lord answered such a
request from a human being." God heard Joshua's prayer and brought victory
to Israel by doing the miraculous, and I believe if we have that same
drive for victory, God will do the same for each of us. (Joshua 10:12-15)

Let this simple message lift up your heart and encourage you to not feel
discouraged. The game is not over until God says it's over. Imagine how
big and powerful the sun is; yet God made it stand still to bring victory
to Joshua and his solders. The Lord is faithful in bringing us victory,
so let us show our confidence in Him and know that we will always win
because of Who is on our side. (Ephesians 6:10) (Psalm 118:5-6)

[bybybill]

We must ALWAYS support our troops. I own a Retail store in Portland, Or. We put up a sign during Desert Storm that said, "All military personnel receive a 10% discount". We lost customers over that sign believe it or not. Screw`em, the sign is still up.

[capitan_refugio]

Vaya con Dios, bkwells!

... USS Tarawa, an amphibious assault ship that looks like a small aircraft carrier ...

The Tarawa class LHAs, along with their cousins, the Wasp class LHDs are very capable vessels. At around 40,000 tons full load, the Tarawas dwarf all of the WWII fleet carriers up to the Midway class (except for the IJN Shinano). The fearsome Soviet Kiev class displaced only 42,000 tons. The new French nuclear carrier, Charles De Gaulle, is 36 feet shorter and 2,000 fewer tons displacement than Taraw!.

Our amphibious assault ships only look small when compared the to other American super-carriers. Show the flag my friend! And kick some Iraqi butt.

(Disclaimer - all of the data cited is public information)

[Bulldog1967]

SEMPER FI AND GOD SPEED DEVIL DAWGS!!!

[RaceBannon]

That comment shows you have never been on ship when Marines were on board. It was US who cleaned the pots and pans!!

[rwgal]

Godspeed son (BKWells is my firstborn). Your dad and I are very proud of you and you remain in our thoughts and prayers daily. Thank you for your service to our great country. We will be dockside when you return.

Love, Mom

[Scarlet_Pimpernil]

As a navy veteran of a 7 month deployment lobbing tomahawks at Iraq the last time, I was trying to think of an encouraging thing to say that hasn't already been said here.

Just wanted you guys to remember, the battle you fight is a marathon, not a sprint. Its for honor, and for freedom. Every one of us wants to go over there and as one poster said, 'get some.' The tough part is keeping sharp and upbeat while waiting for the order, training which is boring, steaming in a box waiting with your finger on the trigger---but that is a part of the battle. Remember that.
Remember we are praying for you and their are folks back here who appreciate what it means to be a warrior, to pledge your life, your fortune, and your sacred honor.

PS ...and some of us may be joining you if we should get the call :)

[dd5339]

Thanks for your service!

Semper Fi
0351 1st Btn 3 MarDiv Kaneohe 83-87