Free Republic

The US Embassy in Egypt denied Saturday that US naval vessels near Egypt's shores are sent in preparation for military action. A top Marine Corps general said Thursday that two US marine vessels approached Egypt's Red Sea shore, raising concerns in the Egyptian media about an imminent military move. "We deny false claims in the Egyptian press that US naval ships are in the vicinity of the Arabian Peninsula and the Suez Canal to militarily invade Egypt," read a statement issued on the US embassy's website. The statement went on to say that the United States regularly deploys forces near...

AQABA, Jordan (NNS) -- The Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group (KSG ARG) and embarked Marines from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) commenced their participation in Exercise Eager Lion 2013, June 9. Eager Lion is a multilateral exercise held annually in Jordan, and is a continued effort to support military-to-military partnerships and enhance security and stability in the region. "International exercises like these are important because they strengthen ties and promote interoperability between countries," said Amphibious Squadron Four commodore, Capt. Brad Skillman. "We are delighted to be working with our JAF long-time partners and we are looking forward to a valuable,...

haka, Nov 24 - Several hundred activists of the radical Islamic group Hizb ut Tahrir staged protests here before the arrival of two ships of the US Navy for distributing relief supplies among cyclone-affected people. Two warships, USS Essex and USS Kearsarge -- each carrying 20 helicopters and 3,500 marines on board with emergency relief supplies, medical and emergency evacuation teams -- are scheduled to enter Bangladesh waters Saturday and Tuesday. The protesters Friday carried a banner reading 'Prevent American ships from entering the Bay of Bengal in the name of distributing relief' and chanted slogans 'Go back to America'...

WASHINGTON - U.S. defense officials have signaled that up-to-date attack plans are available if needed in the escalating crisis over Iran's nuclear aims, although no strike appears imminent. The Army and Marine Corps are under enormous strain from years of heavy ground fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. Still, the United States has ample air and naval power to strike Iran if President Bush decided to target nuclear sites or to retaliate for alleged Iranian meddling in neighboring Iraq. Among the possible targets, in addition to nuclear installations like the centrifuge plant at Natanz: Iran's ballistic missile sites, Republican Guard bases,...

Our military sources report that aboard the Kearsarge group’s vessels are members of the 22nds Marine special operations-capable Expeditionary Unit, ready to execute landings on Lebanese beaches. Wednesday, Aug. 29, Adm. William Fallon, chief of US Central Command and the war on terror paid an unannounced visit to Beirut, although for years US generals have given the Lebanese capital a wide berth. He left after three hours, the longest time considered safe for him to stay. Our sources reveal he reviewed with Lebanese leaders US preparations for military intervention should the September presidential election descend into civil violence or elicit...

ABOARD USS KEARSARGEIT'S been 56 months since the onset of the Long War. Time for a break. So this most modern of the Navy's warships - recently back from the Mideast and in training for a return trip - turns her bow toward New York City and Fleet Week liberty for her 1,800 sailors and Marines. What sort of a ship is she? "Forty-thousand tons of twisted steel and sex-appeal," says Rear Adm. Garry Hall, with a broad smile. "There's no beach beyond our reach." It's a time-tested trope, no doubt about that, but no less true for the re-telling...

MANHATTAN, N.Y. (NNS) -- More than 1,000 Sailors and 600 Marines aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) arrived in New York May 24 for Fleet Week 2006. Kearsarge, along with seven other U.S. naval ships will visit Manhattan and Staten Island for the annual celebration from May 24-31. “Fleet Week allows us to show the character of our Sailors and Marines and the quality of the Kearsarge’s, equipment, technology and capabilities,” said Capt. Joseph Sensi, Kearsarge’s commanding officer. “We thank New York for showing such appreciation and support for those of us who serve.” During their visit,...

Thought you guys would like to see this. We took fire daily aboard our aircraft in Vietnam and got bupkis. I guess this is part of the "award inflation" we've been hearing about. Roy ===================================================== Crew from the amphibious assault ship Kearsarge and dock landing ship Ashland have been awarded the combat action ribbon for an Aug. 19 incident in Aqaba, Jordan, according to Navy information. While Kearsarge and Ashland were tied up pierside in port, a rocket flew over Ashland’s bow and past Kearsarge, hitting a nearby warehouse. The Katyusha rocket killed a Jordanian soldier and wounded another who...

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- The amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) was awarded the Combat Action Ribbon in December for action while in Aquaba, Jordan, in August. The Combat Action Ribbon is awarded to a ship’s crew when the safety of the ship and crew is endangered by enemy attack - such as a ship engaged by shore fire - and the ship’s crew performance is considered satisfactory. Kearsarge’s robust force protection measures thwarted a terrorist attack while pierside in Aquaba with USS Ashland (LSD 48) Aug. 19 in support of Exercise Infinite Moonlight, a two-week training exercise between...

Jordanian authorities announced Monday that they had arrested a "prime suspect" in the rocket attack on two US warships in the Jordanian port of Aqaba, reports The New York Times. Friday's attack missed the two US vessels moored in Aqaba for training exercises, but killed one Jordanian soldier and severely wounded another. It was the most serious attempt to harm Western interests in Jordan since US diplomat Lawrence Foley was murdered in the capital of Amman in 2002. Hours after Jordan announced the suspect's arrest, Al Qaeda in Iraq – headed by now-infamous Jordanian militant, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi – claimed...

Arrest of an Iraqi suspect in the attack with the rockets of Aqaba AMMAN - an Iraqi, one of the four suspects sought for the attacks with the rocket of Aqaba (southern), was stopped Saturday evening in Amman, indicated to AFP a sedentary source. "the forces of safety stopped the Iraqi suspect whereas it drove its car", the sedentary source under cover of anonymity indicated. The source did not specify the place of the arrest. Friday morning, two rockets of the Katioucha type were drawn since a cargo warehouse from Aqaba where two ships of the American navy wet...

AMMAN, Jordan, Aug. 19 - A rocket was fired early today at two American naval ships docked in southern Jordan, killing a Jordanian soldier and marking the first attack on American military ships in the region in five years, American and Jordanian officials said. A rocket was fired at the same time from apparently the same area at an airport in a neighboring Israeli port, hitting a stretch of road and wounding a taxi driver, news agencies reported, citing Israeli officials and witnesses. A third projectile was fired at a Jordanian hospital around the southern port of Aqaba but did...

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...

Families and friends greeted troops with tears and cheers Saturday as the last wave of Marines from Task Force Tarawa returned to their home base from Iraq. "I'm super blessed," said Gunnery Sgt. Bryant Davis, 36, of Atlanta, who let out three "Wooos!" after embracing his young nieces outside Camp Lejeune's barracks. Davis was one of 2,000 Marines aboard the USS Kearsarge, the last of the seven-ship Amphibious Task Force East that arrived on the North Carolina coast this past week. "It's a beautiful day to come to the United States of America," said Davis, an 18-year Marine veteran....

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...

A US marine expeditionary force was heading for the strife-riven west African state of Liberia on Friday night after Washington came under increased pressure to deploy troops in what would be its biggest military engagement in Africa since the early 1990s. The USS Kearsarge, carrying 1,800 marines, 1,200 sailors and attack helicopters, was diverted on its homeward voyage from Iraq to prepare for the possible evacuation of civilians from Liberia where rebel fighters have reached the edge of the capital, Monrovia. The ship's redeployment comes amid concerns in the US military that its forces are overstretched. The US army is engaged...

French troops rescue Americans in Liberia June 10, 2003 BY ELLEN KNICKMEYER MONROVIA, Liberia--With rebel forces bearing down on the Liberian capital, French helicopters swooped in Monday to rescue more than 500 Americans, Europeans and other foreigners. Insurgents battling President Charles Taylor's weakened government pushed several miles inside Monrovia's western outskirts. American officials renewed calls for a cease-fire. ''We were going to stick it out, but it's time to go,'' Iddo Yodder, a gray-bearded Mennonite missionary from Lott, Texas, said as he was evacuated. ''It's a very heavy feeling leaving all our Liberian friends behind, knowing what they have to...

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) has been directed to join forces in support of Operation Shining Express, to aid in the potential evacuation of U.S. citizens from the country of Liberia. The ship’s return date is currently undetermined. At the request of the U.S. Ambassador to Liberia and at the direction of the Secretary of Defense, the U.S. European Command has sent the military support to the region to provide the ambassador an enhanced capability to monitor the current situation in Liberia and to be pre-positioned to aid in any evacuation of U.S. citizens. The operation includes...

April 20, 2003 IN THE NORTH ARABIAN GULF -- The amphibious assault ships of Task Force 51 come together in an unprecedented formation during operations in the North Arabian Gulf. This marked the first time that six large deck amphibious ships from the East and West coasts have deployed together in one area of operations. Led by the flag ship USS Tarawa (LHA 1), the ships in the second row from bottom to top are USS Saipan (LHA 2) and USS Kearsarge (LHD 3); and the third row ships are USS Boxer (LHD 4), USS Bataan (LHD 5) and USS...

<p>It's not quite man-bites-dog. But the day we have something nice to say about MTV sure comes close. And that day looks like today.</p> <p>While surfing through the news section of MTV's Web site, we happened to stumble across its "At War With Iraq" link, and it sure belies the cable network's spoiled, Generation Y image. For example, in an MTV poll attempting to distinguish between its viewers' support for the war and their support for the troops, the results were pretty amazing. An overwhelming 60% reported that they supported both the troops and the war. Some 37% answered that they opposed the war but nonetheless supported the troops. That left only a tiny 3% who oppose the troops as well as the war.</p>