Cleveland (LPD 7 CL 55) - Naval Cruise Book

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I r After Croatia, it was a mad dash back through the Suez Canal to pick up the load of Marines and equipment for the long transit back to the States. It is not a straight shot back to the States, however, as the Air Department spent a little of its hard earned tax- free money in the ports of Sydney and Carins Australia as well as Pearl Harbor Hawaii before finally returning to San Diego. Flight Deck Award Winning Crash and Salvage Team Air Department Personnel Roster LCDR John Sowers LT Rob Kurosu ABFC (AW SW) Michael Zarate ABH1 Rey Trinidad ABH1 (AW SW) Brian Hurrell ABF1 (SW) Ivan Sevilla ABF2 (SW) Ulric Carter ABF2 (SW) David Lawrence AS2 Daniel Leano AS2 Luis Huertamatzuo ABH3 (SW) William Messick ABF3 Mathew Bernal ASS Bryan Woods ABH3 Jeremy Zeller AS3 Tyler Stansell ABF3 Luis Duartecalderon ABF3 Juan Urbano AN Lyie Maclin AN Xavier Watson AN Edmond Perkins Cruise Statistics Hours spent at Flight Quarters 1,200 Mail and Cargo Transferred 1 ,500 Tons Passengers Transferred 280 J P-5 Transferred 400,000 Gallons MOGAS Transferred 6500 Gallons VE01 16 S..- :.

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After the long transit was finally over and the offload was complete off the coast of Kuwait, the Cleveland was tasked to enter the Medi- terranean to conduct mine-sweeping mine- hunting operations with a MCMRON staff, HM- 1 5 squadron and an EOD detachment. Work- ing closely with four smaller mine-sweeping ships, the Cleveland and the Air Department kept the Mediterranean side of the Suez Ca- nal free from Iraqi and terrorist threats and open for business. It was not all work, however, as many enjoyed the food and culture offered by Sicily and Split Croatia. While at our first port since leaving San Di- ego, NAS Sigonella Sicily was raided for much needed items (such as protein powder for the hard chargers), phone calls were made to family and friends and of course fast food urges were satisfied at the local food court. Split Croatia was also enjoyed by all with many MWR tours available including Whitewater raft- ing down one of the local rivers, cliff diving and shopping at the local outdoor markets MH-53E conducts a hotwash after completing a day of mine-hunting One day of many, chaining down AH-1w Cobras. Fast food fix at the food c ourt NAS Sigonella, Sicily Someone point out the XO so I don ' t run him over! 15

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CLEVELAND ' S ATF WEST 2003 AIR DEPARTMENT LCDR SOWERS LT KUROSU ABFC(AW SW) ZARATE BF3 BERNAL ABF2(SW) CARTER ABF3 DUARTE AS2 HUERTA ABH1 HURRELL No Photo Available ABF2 LAWRENCE AS2 LEANO AN MACLIN ABH3 MESSICK AN PERKINS 17