USS Tarawa (LHA 1) - Naval Cruise Book

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AMumauuaa1fQQU.3 eb 'mama Q I USS TARAWA WAS THE FLAGSHIP FOR COMMANDER, AMPHIBIOUS GROUP THREE, ADMIRAL MARSH. IN A CONFLICT THAT GATHERED THE LARGEST AMPHIBIOUS PRESENCE AND ACTION SINCE WORLD WAR II, THE ADMIRAL AND HIS STAFF TOOK CHARGE AND CARRIED OUT OUR MISSION IN THE PERSIAN GULF FLAWLESSLY. TS w E 1-f ff Taq , I W W , 1 Fi I g if L ff V'--'QA ' ff I -'AW vu-r Lf' .,,.. Lu, sv, Www, Y ht , we 3 ...K . X ,wg H, J Y' ' 5, ,A e' I K' E I 1 I fe f W ' s, l XD f' 2 I If Q 5 I Q ' it I I A W A , A gi fr M .X J, I V ,A I LT' ,k xz 4 fl M VVVI L f'WK ' f I ifb-r ig. ' '-fqiwf. ,. K.-fm . pl, vlJi,,,,, L E flu. I ---f ,W '- ' g' -.VY , .H . Av- -ff-' - ,,-- M., I.,,, W , -,,, , 4 , - , , ' , If I . 1 ' V , 3 . 9 pu- , F' f-my g V f L, f I ' 1 F f 4 ' - ,.,, I- , I II I I E fSL OSF, AII f A ,M,.WM--N..1-,,---A-Riff my 53, ,,,,, VJ,

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COMMANDER AMPHIBIOUS SQUADRON SEVEN Captain Ronald L. Thomas Hometown Memphis Tennessee College Wabash College Crawfordsville Indiana Commission 1978 Officer Candidate School Assignments USS BRADLEY CPF 10415 Suiface Warfare D1v1s1on Officer School USS FRESNO CLST 11825 USS BRISTOL COUNTY CLST 11985 Amphibious Squadron NINE CNO Expeditionary Warfare DIVISIOH Commanding Officer USS ANCHOR AGE CLSD 365 Office of International Security Operations QNaval AdV1SOf5 Commander Amphibious Squadron A I SEVEN 1 Qt' Major awards Meritorious Service Medal C25 Navy Commendation Medal C35 Pacific Fleet Propulsion Examining Board 1fBelow5 Captain Thomas welcomes the Am- bassador to Kuwait? with the help of BM2. CAbove5 Captain Thomas addresses the crewof USS TARAWA CLHA 15.

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R ?it: l . K TARAWA's 2003 deploy- ment is one that none of us could forget. Enroute to the Northern Arabian Gulf, our visit to Hawaii was scaled down to a tantalizing view of the coast. We did man- age a couple days of liberty in Singapore, giving us a much needed boost in mo- rale prior to racing west. It would be the last liberty for TARAWA for 107 days! We entered the Persian Gulf on the 6th of February, Constantly practicing Gen- eral Quarters and MOPP drills. On the edge of war, the 15th MEU off-loaded ...,. 4--.....f with their equipment, de- termination andbestwishes from its Navy crew. TARAWA performed its duties as CTF-51 flagship admirably, remaining on high alert, and following the progress of our Marines for over 3 months. we brought the 15th MEU back on May 5th, and began the trip home with some Well-deserved liberty in Bahrain i'rr, 0 0 W On the way home, We ene joyed the Seychelles, Townsville, and Hawaii, before finally reuniting with our families and friends, back in San Diego. - - f '