WOO-HOO!!!! Posted on 10/03/2005 5:56:35 PM PDT by SandRat
ABOARD USS IWO JIMA (NNS) -- After more than a month of conducting relief operations in the wake of two hurricanes that devastated the Gulf Coast, USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) returned home to Norfolk, Va., Oct. 2.
After receiving orders to depart the Gulf of Mexico, the multipurpose amphibious assault ship steamed toward the Florida Keys and into the Atlantic Ocean. Oct. 1, Iwo Jima offloaded some 650 Marines of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and 1st Battalion, 8th Marines at Onslow Bay, N.C., via helicopters and Air Cushion Landing Craft (LCAC) from the ship’s well deck.
“This crew has showcased a truly historic effort during this mission,” remarked Iwo Jima Commanding Officer Capt. Richard S. Callas. “They fulfilled what the President asked during his speech at Jackson Square in New Orleans. Every Sailor, without being asked or directed, ‘found their role, and did their part.’”
Since departing her homeport Aug. 31, LHD 7 has been at the center of Joint Task Force Katrina and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)–led recovery and assistance efforts in the battered cities of Biloxi and Gulfport, Miss., and New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina’s landfall that same month.
Within three days, Iwo Jima, along with USS Tortuga (LSD 46) and USS Shreveport (LPD 12), steamed from Norfolk and were on station off Biloxi to join USS Bataan (LHD 5), who was already on station, and landed amphibious elements assigned to Naval Beach Group 2 to establish a foothold, delivering much-needed supplies to the battered community.
Even as beach crews were establishing a presence for the arriving Seabees of 1st Naval Construction Division, thousands of pounds of water and other much-needed supplies were delivered ashore via LCAC and utility landing craft (LCU).
Less than 24 hours later, Iwo Jima was again underway and transiting up the Mississippi River toward New Orleans.
Even before the ship moored at the city’s Riverwalk Pier (normally reserved for cruise liners) Sept. 5, Iwo Jima’s Jack Lucas Airfield came alive as numerous aircraft from various military and federal agencies touched down. Approximately 1,600 flight events were conducted during the ship’s stay in New Orleans, averaging nearly 100 a day.
“What we did in one week might normally take nine,” explained Senior Chief Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) (AW) James C. Wright, flight deck leading chief petty 0fficer. “Everyone in the air department pulled their weight and got the job done. They did everything right.”
Iwo Jima also contained the only fully-functioning medical and dental facilities in the area at the time of the ship’s arrival. With 85 additional augmentees embarked from Portsmouth Naval Hospital, LHD 7 performed 50 surgical procedures, averaged treating approximately 30 patients a day, and Iwo’s dental spaces saw 110 visits, as well.
In addition to its flight deck and medical capabilities, much of Iwo’s crew took time to assist the stricken community through many volunteer relief projects during the stay.
Hull technicians and damage controlmen worked around the clock to assist dewatering efforts at local medical facilities, including the Medical Center of Louisiana’s Charity Hospital. That same group was able to repair the air conditioning unit in the city’s Convention Center, bringing much-needed relief to the 1,650 National Guard members living there.
For the city’s first responders, among them the Rhode Island National Guard and U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division, the ship provided a welcome relief to the recovery efforts following the hurricane and subsequent flooding. In total, Iwo Jima served 3,000 extra meals a day, provided 400 showers daily, and 1,550 laundry services for the guests – using only normal manning.
Also, members of Iwo’s aircraft intermediate maintenance department, along with the HTs, helped to convert a baseball dugout into a decontamination station for relief workers of the Jefferson Parish Emergency Operations Center (EOC), headquartered in the field’s adjacent gymnasium.
“It was motivating to be able to come off the ship and see that we can have a direct impact on the mission here,” said Iwo’s Aviation Support Equipment Technician 1st Class (AW) Bradley Hinds.
Much of the remaining crew devoted off-duty hours helping to clean the pier’s surrounding areas, including the entire Riverwalk Plaza, and volunteered at a soup kitchen established at the base of the city’s world trade center to provide hot meals for tens of thousands of first responders.
“It’s definitely rewarding to know we’re able to do something to contribute,” said Fire Controlman 3rd Class (SW/AW) Dave Thalman, one of the many volunteers to serve at the Soup Kitchen.
Iwo Jima quickly sortied back into the Gulf Sept. 21 from its berth in downtown New Orleans as Hurricane Rita quickly grew in strength and approached the area. Sailing within 250 miles of the hurricane’s eye, Iwo Jima followed the storm toward shore, ready to provide immediate rescue and recovery assistance.
WOO-HOO!!!! Thanks for posting this article.
Taxman Bravo Zulu! to all who pitched in to help after the Hurricanes devastated the Gulf Coast.
Proud to be a Navy Veteran bump!
BTTT
BTTT
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