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USO Canteen FReeper Style ~ TRIBUTE TO THE USS TARAWA (LHA-1)& FReeper Brian Wells ~ January 20 2003
January 20, 2003 | snippy about it

Posted on 01/20/2003 5:03:05 AM PST by snippy_about_it

Our very own FReeper bkwells is deployed on the
USS TARAWA (LHA-1)


Tarawa's Mission
Global events continue to spotlight the requirement to successfully project power from the sea. Tarawa's capabilities make her the world's most formidable amphibious power projection platform. Her primary war fighting mission is to land and sustain United States Marines on any shore during hostilities. A "national asset," the Tarawa's location and readiness are briefed daily to the National Command Authority.

Characteristics,Tarawa Class (This information is derived from US NAVY Fact Files.)

USS Tarawa (LHA-1) Tarawa class, General Purpose Amphibious Warship
Description: Primary landing ships, resembling small aircraft carriers, designed to put troops on hostile shores.
Features: Modern U.S. Navy amphibious assault ships are called upon to perform as primary landing ships for assault operations of Marine expeditionary units. These ships use Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC), conventional landing craft and helicopters to move Marine assault forces ashore. In a secondary role, using AV-8B Harrier aircraft and warfare helicopters, these ships perform sea control and limited power projection missions.
Background: Amphibious warships are uniquely designed to support assault from the sea against defended positions ashore. They must be able to sail in harm's way and provide a rapid built-up of combat power ashore in the face of opposition. The United States maintains the largest and most capable amphibious force in the world.

Specs
Builders: Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Miss.
Power Plant: Two boilers, two geared steam turbines, two shafts, 70,000 total shaft horsepower
Length: 820 feet (249.9 meters)
Beam: 106 feet (31.8 meters)
Displacement: 39,400 tons (40,032 metric tons) full load
Speed: 24 knots (27.6 miles per hour)
Ships:USS Tarawa (LHA 1), San Diego, Calif.
USS Saipan (LHA 2), Norfolk, Va.
USS Belleau Wood (LHA 3), Sasebo, Japan
USS Nassau (LHA 4), Norfolk, Va.
USS Peleliu (LHA 5), San Diego, Calif.
Crew: Ships Company: 82 officers, 882 enlisted an embarked Marine Expeditionary Unit of 1,900 plus
Armament: Two RAM launchers; two Phalanx 20 mm CIWS mount; four 25 mm Mk 38 machine guns; five .50 caliber guns;
Commisioned: May 29, 1976

Aircraft
(Actual mix depends upon mission)
Nine CH-53 Super Stallion helicopters -heavy lift aircraft
Twelve CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters -medium lift aircraft
Four AH-1W Cobra Helicopters -attack aircraft
Six AV-8B Harrier attack aircraft -close air attack and support aircraft
Two UH-1N Iriqouis helicopters -command and control aircraft

Landing Craft
1 LCAC (Landing Craft Air Cushion)-Air cushion craft for transporting, ship-to-shore and across the beach, personnel, weapons, equipment, and cargo of the assault elements of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force.
2 LCU (Landing Craft Utility)-Landing craft are used by amphibious forces to transport equipment and troops to the shore.

Tarawa mission Link



She's a beauty! Eagle of the Sea


A RAM missile being launched from the USS Tarawa



PhalanxClose-In Weapons System-----------Mark 38 ~ 25 mm machine gun system


Marines from 13MEU train for an amphibious assault on a beachhead



Four AV-8B Harriers await launch from the flight deck of the USS Tarawa.



An LCU leaves the welldeck of the Tarawa while two CH-53's commence flight operations off her port side



A CH-153 heavy lift helicopter takes off of the flight deck.



An AH-1W Cobra attack helicopter hovering by in the Persian Gulf.



well deck



USS Tarawa off the coast of Yemen


The Official USS Tarawa Ship's Photo



The Battle of Tarawa ~ History

The Central Pacific's Gilbert Islands were strategically important to the Allies in World War II. Tarawa, an atoll in those islands, was the scene of a major amphibious assault and on of the proudest testaments to valor in U.S. Marine Corps history.

Japan's Rear Admiral Shibasaki Meichi was quoted as saying before the assault that it would take the American forces "a million men and a hundred years" to capture the atoll. The Japanese had backed up this boast with an elite force of almost 5,000 men and heavily fortified the island of Betio in the southwestern corner of the atoll. Since capturing the islands three days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese had spent two years positioning coastal defense guns, antiaircraft guns, anti-boat guns, light and heavy machine guns, and an airstrip they could use to strike at allied troops stationed in the area. The atoll was strategically vital to both sides, and the stage was set for one of the bloodiest battles in the Pacific.

The Allies were faced with serious problems in capturing Tarawa. The big coastal guns would keep the Navy guns either under constant fire or at bay, and the Japanese had used sunken ships and other pieces of metal to create obstacles which blocked the avenues of approach from the sea. The approaching craft would have to slow down to maneuver, putting them in prearranged ambush sites where they would be subject to deadly, concentrated fire from fortified positions. The next line of obstacles included a double apron of barbed wire, log barriers, and concrete obstacles which surrounded the island. After breaching these defenses, the Marines would still be faced with the beach itself, where the Japanese had fortified heavy machine guns which created a series of interlocking fields of fire in addition to antipersonnel mines and anti-vehicle mines in the fringing reefs where the boats would have to land. With the added benefit of antiaircraft guns and planes of their own, the defenders were well prepared for any assault.

The Allies had to take Tarawa, however, and on November 19, 1943 the assault began. Faced with the near-impossible odds and hounded from all sides, the Marines made it to the beach; by the last day of battle the Japanese had been forced into the east end of the the three-mile long island. They had prepared a series of fortified positions to fall back on in their retreat, and had defended each one almost to the last man. Those three miles may be some of the longest in Marine Corps history, as they slowly advanced at a terrible price. Organized resistance on Tarawa ceased by 1:30 PM on the third day.

The Battle of Tarawa took 76 hours and cost the lives of 1,020 Marines. The list of Americans wounded was listed as high as 2,296. The cost was much higher for the Japanese defenders- of the 4,386 elite troops on Betio, only 146 were left alive.

Four Marines received the Medal of Honor for their heroism, three of them posthumously. The fourth, Colonel David M. Shoup, Commanding Officer of the 2nd Marines and Betio Island Assault forces, later became the Commandant of the Marine Corps.

USS Tarawa (LHA-1) website



Introducing FReeper Brian Wells (bkwells)

I am married with 2 kids, a boy age 8 and a girl age 4. We have lived in Las Vegas for almost 3 years now.

I am an Air Force brat and have moved around all my life. In fact, when I hit the 10th grade, that was my 8th different school! Graduated from Hirschi High School in Wichita Falls, TX in 1985 and joined the Navy in Feb 1986.

I have been stationed aboard the USS MT WHITNEY (LCC-20), NAS Kingsville TX (Where I met my wife!), the USS CONSTELLATION (CV-64), Guam, Brunswick Maine, and now the USS TARAWA (LHA-1).

I am a Senior Chief Petty Officer (E-8) and my field is Meteorology (AG rating in Navy lingo - Weather Guesser for slang Navy lingo).

My primary job is running the weather office but as with all Navy ships, I have other duties throughout the ship among them:

Operations Department Leading Chief Petty Officer (I'm the senior enlisted man within my department), I am in charge of a Repair Locker during Battle Stations - we fight fires, control flooding, run a denomination station in case of chemical,biological, or nuclear attack, etc.... and I run a duty section when we are inport.

It's more than enough to keep me busy!

Places I've been:

England, Belgium, Portugal, France, Copenhagen, Ft Lauderdale, St Thomas, Nassau, Curacao, Trinidad-Tobago, Acapulco, Vancouver, Hawaii, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Korea, Thailand, Australia (Perth, Sydney, and Darwin), Jebal Ali UAE, Bahrain, and Seychelles.

Sat off the coast of Kuwait Cit, and sat off the coast of Aden Yemen in support of Operation Determined Response after the terrorist bombing of the USS COLE.





TOPICS: Activism/Chapters; Announcements; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Free Republic; Front Page News; Government; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; US: California; US: Nevada; Unclassified; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: freepermilitary; marines; sailors; tarawa; troops
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To: snippy_about_it
Good night, snippy. Sleep well. Thank you for a wonderful thread today.
301 posted on 01/20/2003 8:21:44 PM PST by radu
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To: snippy_about_it

Excellent job today, snippy. Thanks for putting all of it together and introducing us to Brian and his Mom, and hopefully some of his shipmates. God bless you good for your support of our troops. Good night and sleep well.

302 posted on 01/20/2003 8:22:57 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (God Bless the USA and our Military who protect us all)
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To: Kathy in Alaska; radu; All
Now that we know where we are again, Girlz, I am turning the controls back over to our fine driver! The driver has said his staff would do crumb patrol, Ms Kathy!

I am getting off at the next stop! I've enjoyed the evening, folks, but I've got on my stand-up girdle and my sit-down shoes!

God bless our beloved Troops, and especially our freepers aboard the Tarawa and your families!

Night night all!

303 posted on 01/20/2003 8:25:28 PM PST by TEXOKIE
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To: southerngrit
I think I'm coming down with the 'crud' too.

Oh noooo! Not you, too?! I hope not! Get a good night's rest and we'll hopefully see you tomorrow. :-)

304 posted on 01/20/2003 8:25:37 PM PST by radu
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To: TEXOKIE; radu; All
The Golden Gate Bridge. It's beautifulAnd we got here safely. Good job, Tex! Looks like it's an awful long way across. Glad we have snacks.


305 posted on 01/20/2003 8:26:05 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (God Bless the USA and our Military who protect us all)
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To: TEXOKIE
Thanks for being our tour guide this evening, Tex. God bless you good for your support of our military. Sleep well. Thanks for seeing that crumb patrol is handled.
306 posted on 01/20/2003 8:28:35 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (God Bless the USA and our Military who protect us all)
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To: hunyb; bkwells
Hi Melissa, congratulations on your new computer. You should stop by often. We are very proud of your brother. We are all kind of family here and look out for each other.

We all love our country and appreciate our military very much. I met your mother on here today and we are very thankful for your mom and dad's service to our country as well.

My mother and father also served in the military and a brother and sister, too. We must always remember that the sacrifices they make are for those of us at home and those generations yet to be born.

Have fun with your new computer and thanks again for posting here today.

I know your brother is lurking around somewhere. I will ping him to your lovely post.

I have to stay cool, it's only 5 degrees here in Ohio. LOL.

I'm off to get some sleep now, goodnight Melissa.

307 posted on 01/20/2003 8:29:41 PM PST by snippy_about_it (Pray for our troops!)
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To: TEXOKIE
Good night,TEX. You did a fabulous job taking us on a tour in the streetcar....and we didn't even need the crash helmets! LOL!!!

Sweet dreams and we'll see you tomorrow!
308 posted on 01/20/2003 8:29:48 PM PST by radu
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To: hunyb
Welcome to the USO Canteen!
309 posted on 01/20/2003 8:29:59 PM PST by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub
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To: Kathy in Alaska
and his little sister. See post 299 and welcome Melissa.
310 posted on 01/20/2003 8:32:21 PM PST by snippy_about_it (Pray for our troops!)
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To: Kathy in Alaska; TEXOKIE; All
Looks like it's an awful long way across. Glad we have snacks.

Whew! That's an understatement! Good we have entertainment, too.

311 posted on 01/20/2003 8:32:36 PM PST by radu
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To: snippy_about_it
Sweet Dreams
God Bless You
312 posted on 01/20/2003 8:33:11 PM PST by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub
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To: southerngrit

God bless you good, ms grit. Take care of yourself.

313 posted on 01/20/2003 8:36:43 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (God Bless the USA and our Military who protect us all)
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To: hunyb; bkwells; rwgal
Hello Melissa! Welcome to the USO Canteen. You picked a perfect place as your first stop on your internet voyage and the perfect day! Hope to see you here often.

This has been special for us, too. Not only did we get to meet Brian today but some of his family members as well! Veeeeery cool!
314 posted on 01/20/2003 8:40:23 PM PST by radu
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To: TEXOKIE
Sweet Dreams
God Bless You
315 posted on 01/20/2003 8:40:30 PM PST by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub
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To: hunyb; bkwells; rwgal; snippy_about_it; radu
My goodness, another family member. Hi Melissa!!

Glad you came by the USO Canteen FReeper Style, Melissa, where we honor our troops, our veterans, their families, that would be y'all, and our allies every day.

Hi Sheila........................ Hi Brian

316 posted on 01/20/2003 8:43:19 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (God Bless the USA and our Military who protect us all)
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To: snippy_about_it
It's a family affair! Thanks for the ping. I'm only part way through page 2, but I will catch up eventually. Wait, didn't you go to bed? LOL! It's hard to leave; afraid I'll miss something.
317 posted on 01/20/2003 8:45:04 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (God Bless the USA and our Military who protect us all)
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To: 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub; radu
Headed for home. Back in a bit.
318 posted on 01/20/2003 8:49:01 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (God Bless the USA and our Military who protect us all)
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To: bkwells; rwgal
For you and your wife.


Turn the Page
Affairs of the heart
some the fire burned
cold, turned to ashes
Turn the Page
some are precious gold...
Warm, glowing alive,
surviving, ravages of time
Turn the Page
Affairs of the heart
In Gold

bentfeather (c)
2002

God Bless You Both Richly

319 posted on 01/20/2003 8:51:40 PM PST by Soaring Feather (poet)
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To: Kathy in Alaska; bkwells; hunyb; rwgal
This has been really neat, getting to meet the family today!


320 posted on 01/20/2003 8:56:36 PM PST by radu (I'm rubbin' off on Kathy. Got her speakin' southern.....y'all)
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