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San Diego assault ship Tarawa leaves today for Mideast
San Diego Union Tribune ^
| 1/6/03
| Unknown
Posted on 01/06/2003 1:46:08 PM PST by bkwells
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 Duluth, an amphibious transport dock, and the USS Rushmore, a dock landing ship. On board the ships will be more than 4,000 sailors and Marines, including the Camp Pendleton-based 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
"They're routinely deployed, sometimes with carrier battle groups and sometimes separately, as in this case," Brown said.
He would not say what the ships' role might be should the United States invade Iraq in the coming weeks.
"The president has asked us to be ready, and we're ready," Brown said. "The Tarawa Amphibious Ready Group is certainly going to serve as another one of our assets overseas, as they would on any deployment – one of the options available."
Brown offered no details on the ships' activities during the deployment, saying they would "perform whatever tasks are (deemed) necessary by the operational commanders there."
TOPICS: Breaking News; Government; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 15thmeu; duluth; marines; navy; rushmore; semperfi; tarawa
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To: bkwells
Good luck, God Speed, and thank you from me, my wife, and most importantly from my children.
21
posted on
01/06/2003 2:21:22 PM PST
by
!1776!
To: RandallFlagg
And those "mail buoys" too. God Bless to our men and women sailing to harm's way.
To: bkwells
God bless you, take care, and drop us a line. You will be in our prayers.....
Freegards,
Teacup.....a Marine wife.
23
posted on
01/06/2003 2:25:27 PM PST
by
Teacup
To: g'nad; MudPuppy; spectre; Howlin
Ping!
24
posted on
01/06/2003 2:26:43 PM PST
by
Teacup
To: bkwells
God be with you and your shipmates...stay safe! Thanks for your unselfish service to our country.
25
posted on
01/06/2003 2:27:02 PM PST
by
Neets
To: bkwells
Godspeed bump.
To: bkwells
Fair seas...
To: bkwells
Godspeed. You're in my prayers.
To: bkwells
Godspeed and stay safe. Let us know if you need anything out there and we'll send you a freeping package! Thank you for serving and protecting us!
To: bkwells
Thank you for your willingness for me and my family...for allowing me and my students to live in the greatest country on the face of the earth.
30
posted on
01/06/2003 2:47:15 PM PST
by
Keith
To: bkwells; 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub; SAMWolf; bentfeather; AntiJen
Thanks for your service, BK...
Take good care of yourself and your buddies, we're with you all the way!
31
posted on
01/06/2003 3:01:31 PM PST
by
HiJinx
To: bkwells
May God protect you and your loved ones
Good luck Godspeed and Good hunting. I am certain you will perform a Bravo Zulu job and have the broom on your masthead.
Stay well - Stay safe - stay armed - Yorktown
32
posted on
01/06/2003 3:08:21 PM PST
by
harpseal
To: bkwells
GodSpeed BUMP
Semper Fi
To: bkwells
God's Speed bkwells! Prayers for your safety.
To: bkwells
Thank you, bk. And Godspeed.
To: Teacup; bkwells
Thanks for the ping, Teacup.
bk..BE SAFE! Come back soon and give us a report. God Bless...sw
36
posted on
01/06/2003 3:45:01 PM PST
by
spectre
To: bkwells
Get some!
To: bkwells
God speed.
38
posted on
01/06/2003 4:02:21 PM PST
by
Howlin
To: Keith
What a nice thing to say. And one of the things I love about FR.
39
posted on
01/06/2003 4:03:27 PM PST
by
Howlin
To: NormsRevenge
Forgive my ignorance...afterall I am an OLD fart..
But is the USS Tarawa what the young grunts refer to as a
"Gator Freighter"..
I heard the expression at a family gathering, but was too embarrased to ask what the hell it was....
Praying for success and survival for all those aboard - going into harm's way.
Semper Fi
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