The Source for Navy News
Troop Rotations Underway in Iraq
Story Number: NNS040226-10
Release Date: 2/26/2004 11:55:00 AM
By Journalist 2nd Class Wes Eplen, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet Public Affairs
KUWAIT NAVAL BASE, Kuwait (NNS) -- The transition from the previous force rotation of Operation Iraqi Freedom to the current one is now well underway.
Troops and equipment are continuing to flow into Kuwait Naval Base and the port of Ash Shuaybah under the guidance of U.S. 5th Fleet’s Commander Task Force (CTF) 51 and the Army’s 359th Transportation Battalion.
In a tremendous joint effort pairing units comprised of both active-duty and Reserve troops from the Navy, Marine Corps, Army and Coast Guard, seven ships of military personnel and cargo offloaded at Kuwait Naval Base and Ash Shuaybah to begin the journey north to Iraq.
Various units of CTF 51 began arriving in Kuwait Feb 2. By Feb. 23, they had established a bustling base camp at Kuwait Naval Base, offloaded seven ships, including MV Lopez, MV Baugh, MV Phillips, MV Button, MV Williams, USS Boxer (LHD 4) and USS Bataan (LHD 5), and had already broken camp and made preparations to go home.
Living in an austere tent camp in a high-threat area, crews worked tirelessly to finish the jobs. After working around-the-clock to offload Lopez, Baugh and Phillips, Navy Cargo Handling Battalion 1, detachment BRAVO, from Williamsburg, Va., volunteered to continue offloading Button and Williams, as the previously-assigned cargo handling team was delayed in travel.
In all, more than 4,472 tons of causeway sections, 131 truck vehicles, 2,000 track vehicles and 12,440 tons of combat cargo were unloaded in barely three weeks.
“It’s really a demonstration of how quickly the Navy Marine Corps team can team up, gear up, travel halfway across the world and deliver a fighting force onto the beach again on very short notice,” said Operations Specialist 1st Class Jamie Mckee of Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 5 embarked aboard Boxer.
ACU 5 ferried troops and equipment ashore via Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC).
For Bataan, the deployment marked the ship’s fourth trip to the Gulf since Sept. 11, 2001. Bataan participated in both Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
“Now we’ve come back to help the effort for Operation Iraqi Freedom II and to do the rotation for the forces in country,” said Bataan’s Commanding Officer, Capt. Earl S. Yerger. “The crew has been really magnificent. They’ve risen to every challenge.”
Yet even as these ships were unloading, other troops were preparing for the trip home. The Army’s 690th Medical Company, Ground Ambulance, arrived in theater March 17. After more than eleven months, the unit has traveled more than 40,000 miles and evacuated more than 500 injured Soldiers.
“It’s been an experience,” said Army Capt. Kevin Hamilton, commander of the 690th Medical Company, Ground Ambulance. “Just to see the big Army work, to see my unit work, it was an unforgettable experience. We’ve put in work, we’ve had some exchanges, but we are very fortunate and we’re taking all of our Soldiers back with us.”
As these troops looked forward to getting home to friends and loved ones, others stand ready, willing and very able to take their place.
“The morale is real high,” said Marine Staff Sgt. Patrick Cooper, a CH-46 helicopter avionicsman with Marine Medium Helicopter Support Squadron (HMM) 261 en route to Iraq. “We’re all excited to get in and do what we’ve been trained to do.”
There is, of course, some anxiety, Cooper added, but he has absolute faith in his training and his fellow Marines.
“Fear is normal, but we’ve been trained to do this very thing, and we’re excited,” Cooper said.
“One team, one fight. That’s what it’s all about,” said Rear Adm. Willie Clyde Marsh, Commander, Task Force 51. “No matter what uniform you’re wearing, whether you’re here on shore or at sea, it takes all of us to get the job done.”
For related news, visit the Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/cusnc.
E-mail this story to a friend | Send a comment about this story
Boxer Hosts Visit by Deputy MARCENT - 3/3/2004Boxer Starts Marines Off Right for Operation Iraqi Freedom - 2/28/2004
|
All Any Exact |
|
