USS Boxer heads to Iraq

[thedrifter]

USS Boxer heads to Iraq




SIGNONSANDIEGO NEWS SERVICES
10:54 a.m. January 14, 2004



SAN DIEGO ? The amphibious helicopter carrier USS Boxer set sail from San Diego this morning filled with Marine choppers and tons of supplies being sent to support a force rotation in Iraq.

The Pentagon is in the process of pulling about 120,000 personnel involved in Operation Iraqi Freedom out of the Persian Gulf region and replacing them with a more mobile force.

As part of the force rotation, the Boxer is moving equipment and personnel from the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force stationed at Camp Pendleton and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.

The majority of Marines deploying from Camp Pendleton will depart by air in the spring.

The Boxer, with more than 200 Marines and 900 sailors aboard, is carrying 16 CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopters from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 466 and two CH-46D Sea Knight helicopters from Combat Support Squadron 11 at Naval Air Station North Island.

Three air-cushioned landing craft are also being transported by the ship.

The Boxer is making the trip barely six months after returning from the northern Persian Gulf, where the ship was deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

During the deployment, sailors aboard the Boxer were involved in the night rescue of former POW Army Pfc. Jessica Lynch, according to the Navy.

The ship's intelligence specialists provided satellite imagery of the hospital and surrounding areas to Marine pilots who staged the rescue mission from the Boxer.

"I want to get (the deployment) over with," recently married Marine Cpl. Earl Jordan told NBC 7/39. "It's too long and (drawn)-out."

The ship is expected to return to San Diego in late April.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/...1054-boxer.html

Sempers,

Roger