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USS TARAWA, At Sea (NNS) -- Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 1 is scheduled to return to Naval Station San Diego, after spending more than half a year deployed to the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans, the Mediterranean, and Persian Gulf. The three-ship USS Tarawa (LHA 1) strike group deployed to the Western Pacific in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and the global war on terrorism. “This was the most successful deployment I've experienced. It had nothing to do with me and everything to do with the young Sailors and Marines on board Tarawa," said Capt. Peter Murphy, Tarawa’s commanding officer....

ABOARD USS CLEVELAND, Arabian Sea (NNS) -- Members of Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 1 are currently leading a group of six coalition ships conducting maritime security operations (MSO) in the North Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman. The strike group’s flagship, USS Tarawa (LHA 1) and the amphibious transport dock USS Cleveland (LPD 7) are joined by the guided-missile destroyer USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79). The French ships Var (FS 608) and Lafayette (FS 710), and the Pakistani frigate Badr (PNS 181) round out the coalition task group. MSO are part of ESG-1’s regularly scheduled deployment to the U.S. 5th...

Lord, Keep our Troops forever in Your care Give them victory over the enemy... Grant them a safe and swift return... Bless those who mourn the lost. . FReepers from the Foxhole join in prayer for all those serving their country at this time. .................................................................. .................... ........................................... U.S. Military History, Current Events and Veterans Issues Where Duty, Honor and Countryare acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated. Our Mission: The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans. In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should...

This is one of those rare moments when it might be better if I were not a former Marine. Don't misunderstand me, I'm incredibly proud of my prior service as one of America's "few good men." But I'm afraid I may now come across as being somewhat less-than objective when I attempt to blast Navy fawning James F. Dunnigan out of the water (no pun intended). Here's why: Last month, Dunnigan, acclaimed author and the editor in chief of Strategy Page, wrote a piece, "Why the U.S. Navy Is Creating a New Marine Corps," in which he said, "the toughest...

Nothing tougher than an American Marine By W. Thomas Smith Jr. This is one of those rare moments when it might be better if I were not a former Marine. Don't misunderstand me, I'm incredibly proud of my prior service as one of America's "few good men." But I'm afraid I may now come across as being somewhat less-than objective when I attempt to blast Navy fawning James F. Dunnigan out of the water (no pun intended). Here's why: Last month, Dunnigan, acclaimed author and the editor in chief of Strategy Page, wrote a piece, "Why the U.S. Navy Is...

Lord, Keep our Troops forever in Your care Give them victory over the enemy... Grant them a safe and swift return... Bless those who mourn the lost. . FReepers from the Foxhole join in prayer for all those serving their country at this time. ...................................................................................... ........................................... U.S. Military History, Current Events and Veterans Issues Where Duty, Honor and Countryare acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated. Our Mission: The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans. In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel...

TARAWA, Kiribati (AP) - On the beach at "Bloody Tarawa," where U.S. Marines died by the hundreds, the broken bottles, crushed boxes and plastic bags are now piling up by the millions. Rotting under the equatorial sun, the garbage of an open dump is spreading over a section of World War II's Red Beach, a strip of sand hallowed in American military history. It's a sign of the crisis of solid waste that threatens to overwhelm the tiny atolls of the Pacific, tropical "paradises" whose beauty already is often marred by layers of debris - rubbish with nowhere to go....

Sixty years ago today, thousands of U.S. Marines and a handful of sailors began landing on the Pacific equatorial island chain of Tarawa. The primary objective was an airstrip, which was ultimately secured. But within 76 hours, some 3,000 American boys — many fresh from boot camp — lay dead or wounded. It was the bloodiest period the U.S. had seen in World War II, up to that point. Back home, Americans were shocked. Families were devastated. And many were critical of the tactics employed by military planners in the Pacific. But America's resolve was never in question, and no...

Army releases findings from 507th ambush By Staff Sgt. Marcia TriggsJuly 17, 2003 WASHINGTON (Army News Service, July 17, 2003) - The Army released a 15-page report today stating that members of the 507th Maintenance Company fought the best they could in Iraq until there was no longer a means to resist. Elements of the Fort Bliss maintenance company became an American interest when a navigational error caused them to come under attack March 23 in the city of An Nasiriyah. The report states that of the 33 soldiers in the 18-vehicle convoy, six soldiers returned fire while moving...

Dear Lord, There's a young man far from home, called to serve his nation in time of war; sent to defend our freedom on some distant foreign shore. We pray You keep him safe, we pray You keep him strong, we pray You send him safely home ... for he's been away so long. There's a young woman far from home, serving her nation with pride. Her step is strong, her step is sure, there is courage in every stride. We pray You keep her safe, we pray You keep her strong, we pray You send her safely home...

Announcing the "Canteen's very own"USS Tarawa LHA 1National Geographic Documentary! WARSHIP Premieres on MSNBCThis Sunday night March 2, 20038 and 11 PM EST Brian reports he is not the star, in fact he wasn't even interviewed. :)That's okay.I am here to remind bkwells he will always be the Star of the Canteen!It's true that the Senior Chief is our special FRiend and indeed we pray for and support the entire Tarawa GroupSo grab the popcorn and whatever your drinking and enjoy the show! PREMIERE AIRS SUNDAY ON Click below for more about the show

Our very own FReeper bkwells is deployed on the USS TARAWA (LHA-1) Tarawa's MissionGlobal 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 WarshipDescription: Primary landing ships, resembling small aircraft carriers, designed...

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...

Ship celebrates family as storm clouds gather Relatives, friends join forces with crew By Jeanette Steele STAFF WRITERJanuary 4, 2003 Nine-year-old Vincent Ramirez pulled his younger sister close as they posed for pictures yesterday in front of the Marine helicopters their father fuels. "I'll be the man of the family," Vincent said, his big eyes sad under the beige baseball cap he wore low. That will be the boy's job starting Monday, when his Navy father, Vincente, sails for a six-month deployment – probably to the Persian Gulf, and to possible war with Iraq. It was family day on one...

THE ROAD TO TARAWA At the Quebec conference in August of 1943, the Allied high command announced it's intention to launch an offensive in the Central Pacific, in the drive towards Japan. A prime objective of this drive, to be undertaken as a Navy-Marines operation, was to take the Marshall Islands. The Marshall Islands would serve as an air base from which further operations could be launched against the Marianas, and from there against the Japanese home islands. But 500 miles to the southeast of the Marshalls, an archipelago of atolls called the Gilberts stood between U.S. forward ground air...

ABOARD USS TARAWA, At Sea (NNS) -- The Secretary of the Navy personally delivered a message to "be prepared" to the Sailors and Marines aboard USS Tarawa (LHA 1), and they collectively replied that they’re ready, during a visit to the San Diego-based amphibious assault ship off the coast of Southern California Oct. 24. The Honorable Gordon R. England and his official party flew aboard Tarawa for a mid-morning visit to meet and talk with embarked Sailors and Marines of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), and to let them know that their hard work is appreciated. “I want to...