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A search is ongoing in the Sulu Sea for a 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) Marine assigned to USS Essex (LHD-2) who has been missing for almost two days. Since 9:40 a.m. local time Thursday — Wednesday evening in the U.S. — Navy and Marine Corps aircraft have run around-the-clock searches of the Sulu Sea and Surigao Strait for the Marine who is presumed overboard from Essex, the 13th MEU said in a statement. The search efforts are being assisted by the Philippine Coast Guard vessel. “As we continue our search operation, we ask that you keep our Marine and...

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A U.S. air raid in Baghdad on Friday killed at least eight people, medical sources said, while the Iraqi army said it had killed 30 suspected al Qaeda insurgents north of the capital. A medical source at Yarmouk Hospital in Baghdad said eight bodies had been brought in from a southern neighborhood after U.S. helicopters targeted a building. A police source put the toll at 10, saying many were believed to be civilians. The U.S. military had no immediate comment. It is the second time this week that U.S. forces have been accused of killing civilians in...

PPE stops round, saves Marine July 14, 2007; Submitted on: 07/14/2007 05:28:58 AM ; Story ID#: 200771452858 By Lance Cpl. Timothy M. Stewman, 13th MEU NEAR KARMAH, Iraq (July 14, 2007) -- Over the past decade there have been significant advancements in body armor. During that time there have also been heated debates concerning the performance and effectiveness of the body armor being used by Marines. One Marine with Battalion Landing Team 3/1 got to see first-hand just how effective his issued body armor is. “We were out doing a vehicle mounted patrol and we dismounted, that’s when I heard...

ABOARD THE USS TARAWA (Aug. 3, 2005) -- Somewhere aboard the USS Tarawa, down a few staircases, around a few nooks and through a few crannies, a sailor sits in a chair at a desk in an office with a sputtering air conditioner. His “GQ” face glistening with sweat, he runs his hands through his thick hair and takes a deep breath. “You’re not gonna get the whole “drugs, guns, ‘the streets are tough’ thing from me.” Petty Officer 3rd Class Pasquale Troisi gets straight to the point. As a Religious Program Specialist, Troisi has proven himself as an irreplaceable...

13th MEU embarks on final mission of pre-deployment work-ups Submitted by: 13th MEU Story Identification #: 2005610134415 Story by Cpl. Andy Hurt ABOARD THE USS TARAWA (LHA-1) (June 10, 2005) -- The sounds of anchor chains rumbled through the narrow halls of the USS Tarawa Wednesday morning, signaling the final at-sea period for the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit during pre-deployment work-up training. The Special Operations Capable Exercise will determine whether the MEU is qualified to accomplish specialized amphibious operations while they endure the upcoming Western Pacific deployment, scheduled for mid-July through early 2006. Each element of the MEU, including MEU...

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LOGISTICS AIRPORT, VICTORVILLE, Calif. (March 27, 2005) -- The sun crested over the sage brush and tumble weeds. Marines with nary a wink of slumber, due to the previous night’s mission, squirmed out of their sleeping bags and into the warmth of the morning sun. What made this morning different from any other at TRUEX 05-1, however, is that Marines weren’t waking to clear buildings or run convoys, typical Marine commitments in an urban combat environment. They chose to commit this morning to one of our nation's liberties: freedom of worship. A hasty field chapel, nothing more than...

"Evil Eyes" return from deployment with ESG-1, 13th MEU(SOC)Submitted by: MCAS MiramarStory Identification Number: 2004311113735Story by Lance Cpl. John Sayas MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. (March 11, 2004) -- More than 250 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Marines returned home in formation here Monday afternoon after a six-month deployment throughout the western Pacific in support of the Global War on Terrorism. The Marines of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 163 (Reinforced) "Evil Eyes" arrived by ship over the weekend off the coast of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton with Expeditionary Strike Group 1 and the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations...

Story Number: NNS040310-05 Release Date: 3/11/2004 3:00:00 PM By Fire Controlman 2nd Class Joseph W. Lovett, USS Port Royal, and Lt. Chris Davis, ESG 1 Public Affairs PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (NNS) -- USS Port Royal (CG 73) returned home to Pearl Harbor March 11 following a six-and-a-half month deployment with Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 1. The 350 crew members assigned to Port Royal returned to “the Navy’s best homeport” following operations in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Port Royal deployed Sept. 2 with ESG 1, supporting a Chief of Naval Operations and Commandant of the Marine Corps-sanctioned...

Story Number: NNS040304-03 Release Date: 3/4/2004 10:10:00 AM From Expeditionary Strike Group 1 Public Affairs SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- The seven ships attached to Expeditionary Strike Group One (ESG 1) are returning home this week following a six and a half month deployment in support of the global war on terrorism. USS Greeneville (SSN 772) returned to its Pearl Harbor homeport Feb. 27. USS Port Royal (CG 73), also from Pearl Harbor, is scheduled to arrive home March 10. The remaining ships of ESG 1, USS Peleliu (LHA 5), USS Ogden (LPD 5), USS Decatur (DDG 73), USS Jarrett (FFG...

A Marine assigned to the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit drowned Tuesday when the tank in which he was riding fell off a U.S. Navy landing craft, air cushioned hovercraft and sank in Apra Harbor, Guam. Cpl. Adam S. Lipford, 22, of Madisonville, La., was in an M1A1 battle tank when it fell into the harbor Tuesday afternoon, according to Marine Capt. Bill Pelletier, 13th MEU public affairs officer. Rescue and recovery personnel recovered the Marine just after 6 p.m., Pelletier said. Lipford, who was assigned to 3rd Platoon, Company B, 1st Tank Battalion, Battalion Landing Team 1/1, was pronounced dead...

Former Marine Helps Military Wife Visit Family   Submitted by: 13th MEUStory Identification Number: 2004121224212Story by Sgt. Mark P. Ledesma ABOARD USS PELELIU(January 20, 2004) -- The biggest sacrifices made in the current war against terror are not only made by the men and women currently serving in operations around the world, but also by the families they leave behind. Back home, sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters are affected. A former Marine who served during the Vietnam War recognized those sacrifices and recently lent a helping hand to a spouse whose husband is currently deployed with the 13th...

Photo Essay - 13th MEU, ESG 1 boost morale in desert with 'truck rodeo'Submitted by: Headquarters Marine CorpsStory Identification Number: 2004121131513Story by CENTRAL COMMAND AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY(Dec. 16, 2003) -- Marines and Sailors from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Expeditionary Strike Group 1 take a day off from live fire training exercises and enjoy a little bit of rest and relaxation. They held a "Truck" Rodeo" to boost morale and let off a little steam while training in the CENTCOM A.O.R. Some of the events included a MRE stacking and restacking drill, a timed mortar carry and set...

NEWS RELEASEHEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND7115 South Boundary BoulevardMacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894 January 2, 2004Release Number: 04-01-05 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE INTERROGATION OF SUSPECTED AL QAEDA AFFILIATES LEADS U.S. AND AUSTRALIAN NAVIES TO SEIZE MORE DRUGS ABOARD USS PELELIU, At Sea (1 JAN 2004) – Fifteen individuals were detained and an estimated 2,800 pounds of hashish (approximately $11 million street value) was seized by U.S. and coalition maritime forces following the interception of a dhow in the North Arabian Sea. These forces were operating in international waters in the Commander, U.S. Naval Forces...

U.S. Navy Seizes Small Boat Carrying $11 Million Worth of Hashish Near Persian Gulf WASHINGTON Jan. 2 — The U.S. Navy has seized another small boat carrying drugs near the Persian Gulf after interrogating smugglers with suspected links to the al-Qaida terrorist network, the military announced Friday. The boat seized on New Year's Day was the fourth drug-smuggling vessel intercepted by Americans in the past two weeks in or near the Persian Gulf. Pentagon officials say they believe all four boats, which were carrying hashish, heroin and methamphetamines, are part of a drug smuggling operation which funnels money to Osama...

U.S. Navy seizes boat in Persian Gulf with drugs possibly linked to al-Qaida

Making a 'Smooth' TransitionSubmitted by: 13th MEUStory Identification Number: 2003123112712Story by Capt. Bill Pelletier ABOARD USS PELELIU(Dec. 3, 2002) -- It?s been a busy year for Maj. Barry Dowell and some of his comrades. In October 2002, Dowell, a Harrier pilot by trade, was doing refresher training at VMAT-203, a training squadron at MCAS Cherry Point, N.C., after serving as a flight instructor in Texas for two years. Fast forward to three weeks ago, and Dowell had completed more than a dozen combat missions, most of them north of Baghdad. "It's pretty wild," said the 34-year-old Lexington, Ky., native,...

CAMP LEMONIER, Djibouti(November 20, 2003) -- Paint brushes took the place of rifles in the hands of more than 40 Battalion Landing Team 1/1 Marines and Sailors who participated in civic assistance projects in two Djiboutian towns recently. The 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) ground combat element Marines ashore in Djibouti worked with Djiboutian locals and Army personnel from Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa's Charlie Company, 478th Civil Affairs (Special Operations) in the towns of Tadjoura, a coastal town about 150 kilometers from here, and Obock, more than 200 kilometers away, to paint a regional hospital and...