Belleau Wood (LHA 3) - Naval Cruise Book

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Island. Japan, and Nansei on Iwo Jima. I and I THIRD Fleet strikes May tok: ,early June, She group at ,Leyte and the final strikes Belleau Wood remained in 13. Arrivingat Pearl Harbo three 'days later' with 1,248 Diego. She' remained on 'fMagic servicemen from Guam and Saipa 1946! Belleau Wood also r I Placed out of commission in reserve at Alameda Belleau Wood to France in September under the Mutual Defense Assistance Pro ram returned to the United Statesg and finally from the Navy list on October 1, 1960. Wood received theHPresidentia1 Unit Citation and Battle Stars for her valiant service during World Nearly two decades later on September 23, 1978, ship' christened-Belleau Wood steamed from in Pascagoula, Miss., and relocated to San 1978. , + , Ur WOOD CLHA 35 is the third ship of W design incorporates the best features and several amphibious assault ships Currently Since her commission asnthe center of a or ARG. The ship deployment, and ashore by either combat and humanitarian Present The ship . in 1979 l'St hird January to Air Station in January 1947,the United States, ship served under the navy BOIS BELLEAIU- 1' 'the French navy until 1960. when fvshe fi A-Class Amphibious 'Assault' and Command 1 crew Guam

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Brigadier General Joseph V. Medina is currently the Commander, Expeditionary StrikeGroup ai if Brigadier General Medina received his commission in 1976, following graduation from holds a Bachelor of Science CPhysicsJ and a Master of Science CSystems Managementlfrom the Upon completion of The Basic School, Quantico, Va., he was assigned to the 5th Camp Pendleton, California. He served as a Rifle Platoon Commander, Assistant A 2d Battalion, 5th Marines, and culminated this tour as the Headquarters Company C 1980 to 3rd Marine Division in Okinawa, Japan. Upon joining 3rd Marine Division he was assigned to Battalion Adjutant and later as Company Commander, company F. I Returning from Okinawa in May 1981, he reported to Marine Corps Recruiting as Executive Officer. Following this assignment, he completed Amphibious Warfare School was transferred to lst Marine Division where he was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Weapons Company from June 1985 to January 1987 until his reassignment as the Battalion until July 1988. ' 1 In July 1988, then Major Medina joined the Naval ROTC unit at Penn State HS lst Marine for May 1985 Officer where Associate Professor of Naval Science. During this tour he served two surmner assigmnents at Officer Virginia, as Executive Officer and subsequently as Company Commander, Company G. In August'1991, he Marine Corps Command and Staff College as a student. Upon completion of school as a distinguished graduate in June 1992, he was reassigned to the staff of where he served as the Company Commander for two Basic Officer Courses. Upon selection to as the Instructional Group Chief!Chief Instructor. During October 1994, he transferred to 2nd Marine assigned to the G-3!Operations Section. In May 1995, he assumed command of 3d Battalion, 2d Marine During his tour as Battalion Commander, the battalion deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in Support SIGNAL in 1995 and to Okinawa, Japan as part of the Unit Deployment Program in 1996. Upon February 1997, he was reassigned as Executive Officer, 2d Marines until being transferred to the NATO in August 1997. Command where he was assigned as Contingency Plans Branch Chief J3 Directorate. With the Upon graduation from the NATO Defense College in February 1998 he was transferred 7 a 1 E simultaneously served as Chief, Kosovo Plans Group for Operations NOBLE ANVILIALLIEDIFORC from August 1998 until June 1999. Upon his promotion to Colonel in June 1999, he was assigned as Division 0355, Operations Directorate. He was transferred to Marine Corps Recruiting Command at Quantico 2000, as the G-3, Enlisted Recruiting Operations 8L Plans. He assumed command of the 3rd Marine Regiment in as Commander, SPMAGTF-3 for four HCAXs and RIMPAC-02 during this period. He relinquished and reported to the Commander, 3rd Fleet to stand-up Expeditionary Strike Group Three. was was Rome, Brigadier General Medinais personal decorations include: Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with two gold stars, Joint Service Commendation Medal, and the Navy Commendation Medal with two Gold Stars.