Three more Navy ships deploy from Norfolk Naval Base; banner on ship depicts World Trade Center

AP | 3/04/03 | SONJA BARISIC

[kattracks]

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) -- After watching dozens of Navy ships deploy in recent months in preparation for a possible war with Iraq, sailors on three amphibious ships left Tuesday in this port's last planned deployment for the near future.

"Trust me, we all want to go over there and get it over with," said Capt. David C. Taylor, commander of Amphibious Squadron Six. He said the crews had trained hard and had been ready to go since late November.

The amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima left Norfolk Naval Station on its maiden deployment, along with the amphibious transport dock ship USS Nashville. The amphibious dock landing ship USS Carter Hall left from nearby Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base.

The ships carried about 2,000 sailors and were headed to Morehead City, N.C., to pick up about 2,200 Marines from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit based at Camp Lejeune.

A banner reading "Let's Roll" hung from the Iwo Jima, the lead ship of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group. The banner also bore a quote from President Bush -- "We will not tire, we will not falter, we will not fail" -- and a drawing of the twin towers of the World Trade Center.

Crew members made the banner to remind them of the purpose of their mission, said Capt. John W. Snedeker Jr., commanding officer of the Iwo Jima.

"You can actually feel the energy coming out of the Iwo Jima today," Snedeker said.

Navy officials, who declined to say where the ships were going, said they left three days early on a regularly scheduled deployment. Snedeker said he told his crew to be prepared to be gone for a long time, suggesting they are likely headed to the Middle East.

A couple of hundred family members watched from a parking lot near the pier at the Norfolk Naval Station.

Ernest Johnson of Knoxville, Tenn., had been at the base since about 6 a.m. to see off his 26-year-old son, Petty Officer 3rd Class David Johnson.

"It certainly would be wonderful if none of them had to go," he said. "But it's something he has to do and I'm proud of him. He's carrying on the Navy tradition and keeping us all free."

Since late August, 38 Navy ships carrying 29,000 sailors have deployed from Norfolk, and most are in the Middle East and Mediterranean region.

Many of the piers of the naval station, the world's largest navy base, are empty. About half of the 75 ships based in Norfolk are at sea.

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On the Net:

Naval Station Norfolk: http://www.navstanorva.navy.mil/

[kattracks]

God Speed.

[fatima]

God bless them.

[presidio9]

The next time you hear some liberal jackass suggest that those in favor of war are somehow insensitive to the dangers faced by our servicemen, remember that our armed forces are informed about the dangers they will face, they know exactly why they are going, and they are overwhelmingly in favor of doing so.

Respect the hell out of them for their dedication and patriotism. They put it on the line to protect the 50,000 men and women their age who manipulated giant puppets in from of the UN two weeks ago.

[rs79bm]

I'd like to see a picture of that...anyone have one?

[dixiechick2000]

God bless, and be with them...

[I. Ben Hurt]

Close your eyes. See it now?

[appalachian_dweller]

Can't remember where I found this, but is seems like a good time to post it.

God Bless Them. I for one am VERY GRATEFUL for their service.


THE SOLDIER

Picture in your mind the soldier at Valley Forge, as he holds his musket in his bloody hands. He stands barefoot in the snow, starved from lack of food, wounded from months of battle and emotionally scarred from the eternity away from his family surrounded by nothing but death and carnage of war. He stands tough, with fire in his eyes and victory on his breath. He looks at us now in anger and disgust and tells us this...

I gave you a birthright of freedom born in the Constitution and now your children graduate too illiterate to read it.

I fought in the snow barefoot to give you the freedom to vote and you stay at home because it rains.

I left my family destitute to give you the freedom of speech and you remain silent on critical issues, because it might be bad for business.

I orphaned my children to give you a government to serve you and it has stolen democracy from the people.

It's the soldier not the reporter who gives you the freedom of the press.

It's the soldier not the poet who gives you the freedom of speech.

It's the soldier not the campus organizer who allows you to demonstrate.

It's the soldier who salutes the flag, serves the flag, whose coffin is draped with the flag that allows the protester to burn the flag!!!

[Severa]

Hell my husband (FR screen name Hostel) WANTS to go to the Gulf *L* But given his boat's schedule I don't see that happening any time soon. You never know though...

[martin_fierro]

Check it out:

The U.S. Navy's unique Joint Venture HSV-X1, a high-speed, sealift catamaran designed to transport and insert a broad range of military equipment and personnel, is seen docked in Kuwait February 28, 2003. The Pentagon announced on March 3 that it will move another 60,000 troops into the Gulf region despite signs that a war on Iraq (news - web sites) might be delayed until April, as big powers and ally Turkey persisted on Tuesday in complicating its military plans. (Joseph Krypel, US NAVY/Reuters)

[presidio9]

Hell my husband (FR screen name Hostel) WANTS to go to the Gulf *L* But given his boat's schedule I don't see that happening any time soon. You never know though...

Your husband is a brave man and I respect him. But that's my point. Everyone I know in the service is itching to get to the Gulf. People don't volunteer to serve their country by accident. And they don't stick around if they aren't patriots.

[maxwellp]

Many thanks for your post and particularly the information about the banners. Our military guys, unlike certain anti-war protestors, know what it's all about. And so do millions and millions of Americans.

[gcruse]

About half of the 75 ships based in Norfolk are at sea.

That's surprising.  During the Cuban quarantine in 1961 (?) the piers at the NOB (Naval Operations Base, AKA Norfolk Naval Station) were virtually emptied out.

[cksharks]

Oct 62 and you were right.