Wasp ESG Ships Return From Deployment

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040918-N-6371Q-036 Naval Station Norfolk, Va. (Sept. 18, 2004) - Line handlers assigned to USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), stand at parade rest as the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) makes her way to the pier. Wasp returned to Norfolk, Va., following a seven-month deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). The Wasp-led Expeditionary Strike Group Two (ESG-2) was the first East Coast ESG to deploy. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Orlando Quintero (RELEASED)

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Wasp ESG Ships Return From Deployment
Story Number: NNS040917-12
Release Date: 9/18/2004 1:30:00 PM

From Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet Public Affairs

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- Nearly 2,500 Sailors reunited with family and friends Sept. 18 when the remaining three ships from the USS Wasp (LHD 1) Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG 2) returned from a seven-month deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and the global war on terrorism.

The amphibious assault ship Wasp and the amphibious transport ship USS Shreveport (LPD 12) returned to their homeport of Norfolk Naval Station, and the dock landing ship USS Whidbey Island (LSD 41) returned to its homeport of Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek.

After leaving Feb. 17, ESG 2, the first of its kind on the East Coast, conducted numerous Maritime Interdiction Operations in the Persian Gulf, and carried out operations with more than 10 coalition nations in both the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operations. The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (22 MEU), based at Camp LeJeune, N.C., deployed with ESG 2 and conducted combat operations in Afghanistan.

The Wasp Strike Group is commanded by Capt. Steven C. Joachim, and the 22 MEU is commanded by Marine Col. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr. In addition to Wasp, Shreveport and Whidbey Island, ESG 2 consisted of the guided-missile cruisers USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55), homeported in Norfolk, Va., and USS Yorktown (CG 48), homeported in Pascagoula, Miss.; the guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul (DDG 74), homeported in Norfolk, Va.; and the attack submarine USS Connecticut (SSN 22), homeported in Groton, Conn.

Leyte Gulf and McFaul returned from deployment Aug. 13 and 15, respectively. Yorktown returned to Naval Station Pascagoula Aug. 17 after completing its last scheduled deployment before a planned decommissioning in December 2004. Connecticut returned to Groton, Conn. Sept. 2.

For related news, visit the Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet/NATO Striking Fleet Atlantic Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/c2f.

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