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

[thedrifter]

January 14, 2004

II MEF units to deploy with Bataan

By C. Mark Brinkley
Times staff writer


JACKSONVILLE, N.C. - One of the worst-kept secrets in the Corps was confirmed today, as Camp Lejeune officials announced plans for the unscheduled deployment of a small contingent of II Marine Expeditionary Force leathernecks.
The announcement that II MEF Marines will depart Monday comes as Marines from the West Coast sail today for a similar deployment to the Persian Gulf region.

?Approximately 300 Marines will embark USS Bataan and deploy on Jan. 19 from Norfolk to the Central Command area of responsibility, in support of the Operation Iraqi Freedom-2 force rotation,? said Capt. Teresa Ovalle, II MEF spokeswoman, confirming similar statements Navy officials that came a week earlier.

II MEF officials offered few specifics on the deployment, saying only that it would consist primarily of Marines and equipment from the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. The reason for the early deployment and details about the types of gear that would be hauled over on the massive amphibious-assault ship, often used for Marine Expeditionary Unit deployments, were not released.

In a similar deployment, about 200 Marines are departing San Diego today, headed for the Persian Gulf aboard the amphibious assault ship Boxer. The ship is loaded with 16 CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters and about 200 leathernecks with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 466 from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., officials said.

The Boxer will be assigned a ?combined task force? designation and oversee Maritime Prepositioning Force vessels loaded with Marine Corps vehicles and equipment, Navy officials said. The Bataan likely will sail with helicopters from MCAS New River, N.C., on a two-month deployment.

A year ago, Boxer and Bataan sailed for the Persian Gulf for unscheduled deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Both left as part of seven-ship amphibious task forces and returned in July. Boxer was a ?helicopter carrier,? while Bataan carried AV-8B Harrier jets.

This time, the Boxer and Bataan are deploying because they can offload equipment more quickly than Military Sealift Command ships, officials said. By using the two assault ships, pilots and maintainers also can fly, inspect, fix and train with the helicopters en route to the gulf, options not possible on the MSC ships.

C. Mark Brinkley is the Jacksonville, N.C., bureau chief for Marine Corps Times. Gidget Fuentes contributed to this report from San Diego.

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/sto...925-2553778.php


Sempers,

Roger