Posted on 04/02/2007 1:44:46 PM PDT by doug from upland
My former son in law Josh headed out today for his fourth tour. Godspeed, son. ========================================================================
USS Nimitz Deploys To Persian Gulf Nimitz Will Conduct Marine Security Operations Michelle Krish -- 10News.com Managing Editor
POSTED: 7:30 am PDT April 2, 2007 UPDATED: 11:46 am PDT April 2, 2007
SAN DIEGO -- The USS Nimitz and several other American warships left San Diego Monday for the Persian Gulf to join another locally based aircraft carrier strike group already in the region.
The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier will join the San Diego-based John C. Stennis Strike Group and relieve the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, according to Naval Air Forces Public Affairs.
Military officials said in a statement that the two-carrier presence in the Persian Gulf area is intended to demonstrate U.S. "resolve to build regional security and bring long-term stability to the region."
The Nimitz's departure comes amid heightened tensions in the region following the detention of 15 British sailors and marines by Iran. Iran maintains the detainees were operating in its territorial waters, a charge the British government denies.
President Bush ratcheted up the rhetoric over the weekend, calling the detainees "hostages" -- a term not even the British had used.
The tension over the detainees coincides with international pressure on Iran to give up its uranium enrichment program, which it maintains is strictly for peaceful purposes. The United States and other nations fear Iran is working toward the development of nuclear weapons.
The Nimitz will support the war on terrorism, patrol the Horn of Africa and conduct marine security operations as part of the larger effort to "deter and dissuade others from acting counter to U.S. national interests," according to a Navy statement.
Accompanied by his family at Naval Air Station North Island Monday morning, a sailor preparing for his fifth deployment said the departures aren't getting any easier for his three young daughters -- a 22-month-old, a 3-year-old and a 5-year-old.
"It seems to be getting a bit harder because they're all older and they seem to know that something's going on ... Daddy's not going to be around," he said.
"You just tell them every night, you know, Daddy's trying to keep us safe," the sailor's wife said, adding the family corresponds overseas via e-mail and video teleconference.
The Nimitz Strike Group comprises the guided-missile cruiser Princeton, guided-missile destroyers Higgins, Chafee, John Paul Jones and Pinckney, two helicopter squadrons and an explosive ordnance disposal unit.
The Stennis and its strike group left Naval Base Coronado on Jan. 20. It is the largest carrier presence in the Persian Gulf since the start of the war in Iraq.
I wonder how much of an overlap there will be with all three carriers in the Gulf.
So sad, the level to which the Brits have sunk.
Fair winds and following seas, and get some!
2) Are they going on "regularly scheduled manuvers"? That used to be secret code for "kick-@$$".
I was at Nimitz High School in 1975 when a young Sec of Navy a Mr Webb, came to our school, he announced he was on his way to the commissioning of this ship.
If Bush imposes a naval blockade, they won't get diddly.
My secretary's son is aboard the Princeton.
We have the ships, we have the planes, we have the bombs, we have the justification and Bush has the authority.
Let's get the show over before it's too late.
It has already made them a bunch, and thanks to our gutless dims in Congress, I suspect they will make even more.
United States Code Title 4, Chapter 1, Section 8, paragraph (c) states:
(c) The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free.
the dreaded red x. if you go to NBC San Diego they have several pics from the shipping out this am.
I can go up the street and down a few blocks and look out
to where the Nimitz and Reagan are docked here in San Diego.
The Reagan is deployed also.
Post or FReepmail me if you wish to be enlisted in or discharged from the Navair Pinglist.
This is a medium volume pinglist.
There will probably be four by May.....
Mike
I was stationed on South Carolina when, back in 1986, we were both in port together in Cannes France (SoCar and Nimitz). High seas prevented our liberty boat from taking us back to SoCar and we were diverted to Nimitz. I spent the night there in Reactor Berthing with the enlisted guys. I think we played cards. Anyway, it was a tight ship.
God Speed, Numb Nutz!!
That is hilarious!!!
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