Essex (LHD 2) - Naval Cruise Book

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History of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (SOC), FMF (950409) The 1 3th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) was activated at Camp Pendleton, California on 1 February 1985. It is one of three West Coast MEUs which make periodic deployments to the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean, and Persian Gulf regions. Since its activation, 13th MEU has completed eight Western Pacific Deployments, participated in forty-five amphibious training exercises, visted thirteen foreign countries, and conducted combat operations in support of Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, and United Shield. The Fighting 13th MEU has experienced a number of firsts. It was the first West Coast MEU to be designated as Special Operations Capable, having undergone extensive training in conducting a wide variety of special missions. It was the first MEU to deploy with Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) and the Mastiff remotely piloted vehicle, and the first West Coast MEU to deploy with a force reconnaissance platoon. The 13th MEU (SOC) ' s special operations capabilities were used extensively on its deployment during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Beginning a routine deployment on 20 June 1990, the MEU was diverted to Southwest Asia in August 1990. The first amphibious force to arrive in theater of operations, 1 3th MEU conducted the first offensive actions against Iraq by Marine units. In October, elements of the 13th MEU (SOC) boarded two Iraqi tankers that refused to obey the United Nations sanctions. The MEU conducted a number of operations during Desert Storm including a helicopter raid on Maradim Island, Kuwait and amphibious operations the day the ground war started. The MEU ' s last combat operation in Desert Storm was an Iraqi prisoner of war roundup on Faylaka Island, Kuwait, on 3 March 1991, which resulted in 1,413 Iraqi prisoners. The 13th MEU returned to the United States on 16 April 1991 after being deployed 301 consecutive days. The 13th MEU (SOC) deployed again in January 1992 in support of its Western Pacific commitment. During this deployment, the MEU conducted training operations in the Persian Gulf, Africa and Thailand. Addtionally, the MEU was the last deploying unit to visit the Philippines prior to the closure of Naval Station, Subic Bay. In September 1993, the 13th MEU (SOC) sailed to the Western Pacific, keeping its normal deployment schedule. After completing a routine exercise in Okinawa and a liberty port call in Hong Kong, the MEU was redeployed to Somalia in early October in response to increasing hostilities there. As a key element of the newly-formed COMMARFOR SOMALIA, the 13th MEU (SOC), along with the 22nd MEU (SOC), remained on station ready to provide direct support to United States and United Nations forces ashore. By mid November, the 22nd MEU (SOC) was reassigned back to the Mediterranean area of operations, resulting in the disestablishment of COMMARFOR SOMALIA and leaving the 13th MEU (SOC) as the principle rapid response force in support of the joint task force ashore. During the execution of this vital presence mission, the MEU developed and executed two humanitarian assistance operations. The first, dubbed operation Show Care took place in the cities of Marka and Qoryooley from 11-14 November. From 1-3 December 1993 Operation More Care was conducted in the Old Port of Mogadishu. Both operations provided badly needed medical and dental assistance to the Somali people and went far to enhance civil military operations. The 13th MEU (SOC) continued its presence mission throughout December and January, providing aircraft for the Eyes Over Mogadishu mission as well as sniper support at the United States Embassy

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LIEUTENANT COLONEL WILLIAM C. MACAK EXECUTIVE OFFICER 13TH MARINE EXPEDITIONARY UNIT (SOC), FLEET MARINE FORCE Lieutenant Colonel William C. Macak was bom in Athens. Ohio on 25 November 1953. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant through the Platoon Leaders ' Class (PLC) program in March 1976 after graduating from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Government Economics. Following graduation from the Basic School in September 1976. he earned Naval Flight Officer Wings in July 1978. Completion of F-4 Phantom training led to an initial assigninent to Marine Attack Reconnaissance Squadron -i in March 1979 at Marine Corps Air Station. El Toro, Calif. During the tour he served aboard the USS Midway (March 1980 to November 1980) which deployed to the Indian Ocean. In July 1983, he reported to Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola to start Student Naval Aviator training. In October 1983 he reported to Headquarters Marine Corps to work in the Weapon System Acquisition field. He was assigned in October 1986 to the F A-18D Operational Development Team (ODT). NAS Lemoore, Calif., where he served as Operations Officer. He completed F A-I9D conversion training and Instructor training at Fighter Attack Squadron- 125 and assisted in the writing of the initial F A-I8D Training Readiness Manual, aircrew coordination studies and Tactical manual reviews. He then transferred the the 3rd Force Service Support Group (FSSG) in Okinawa, Japan in October 1988. He was the Group Air Officer and Contingency Plans Officer. He also flew the OA-4M. OV-IOD, F-I5D, and AW ACS aircraft. He detached from 3rd FSSG October 1989 with orders to Marine Air Group 1 1 (MAG- 1 1) at MCAS El Toro. In November 1989. he refreshed in the F A-I8D and was the assigned TAD to MAG-50 for RIMPAC 1990. He returned to MAG- 1 1 in June 1990 where he was the MAG- 1 1 (Rear) Operations Officer until November 1990. Lieutenant Colonel Macak reported to MAG- 1 1 (Forward) Bahrain. United Arab Emirates, for Operation Desert Shield in December 1990. There he performed as Assistant Plans Officer. He wrote the FASTFAC Concept of Operations for Operation Desert Storm, planned the Group 48 hour ATO, performed as Air Boss, and flew 38 combat missions in the F A-I8D. After the war. Lieutenant Colonel Macak returned to MCAS El Toro and assumed his duties in the Operations Department of MAG- 1 1 . He was assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (All Weather) 225 as the Executive Officer in July 1991. Lieutenant Colonel Macak has fiown more than 1 000 hours in the F A- 18D. Lieutenant Colonel Macak was assigned to his present position as Executive Officer, 13th MEU (SOC), in April 1994. Lieutenant Colonel Macak s personal awards include: Two single-mission Air Medals with combat V , Strike Right Air Medal with numerical 3, Navy Commendation Medal with two stars, and the Navy Achievement Medal. Lieutenant Colonel Macak is married to the former Janie Stevens of Yuma, Arizona and has three children; Andrew, Kristin, and Jonathon. SERGEANT MAJOR ROBERT W. TASKER SERGEANT MAJOR 13TH MARINE EXPEDITIONARY UNIT (SOC), FLEET MARINE FORCE Following graduation from Coe-Browns, Northwood Academy in Northwood, New Hampshire in 1966. Sergeant Major Ta.sker enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on 27 July 1967. The Sergeant Major underwent Recruit Training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Car- olina and completed inf anu training at Camp Geiger, Nortli Carolina. Upon completion of infantry training he was transfen d to Marine Aviation Training Command, Memphis, Tennessee during November of 1967 and com- pleted the Aviation Operations Specialist Course in March of 1968. The Sergeant Major ' s first permanent duty station wa.s with Headquarters, MAG-32, 2d MAW, Marine Corps Air Station. Beaufort, S.C. .serving as the Assistant Operations Chief for the MAG and was later transferred to VMFA-25 1 as the Operations (Thief. Receiving orders in August 1969, tlie Sergeant Major reported for duty with Headquarters, MAG-ll, DaNang, RVN in December 1969 via Staging Battalion. MCB Camp Pendleton. Ca. During December 1970, he was transferred to Cherry Point, N.C. where he served as the Operations Chief for VMCJ-2 followed by an assignment as the Operations Chief of VMFA-312. In January 1973, tlien Sergeant Tasker, was assigned to Recruiter ' s School, MCRD, San Diego, Ca., and was sub- sequently assigned to Recruiting Station, Baltimore, Md from March 1973 through June 1977 as a recruiter where he was promoted to Staff Sergeant. He was reassigned to the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff, Recruiting, Parris Island, S.C. During June 1977 and was promoted to Gun- nery Sergeant in March 1978. He served in the capacity of NCOIC. Recruiting Laison Section until July 1980 when he was transfered to MCAS. Beaufort, S.C. to assume the position of Station Flight Operations Chief. During July 1982. Sergeant Major Tasker was transferred to the Headquarters, 4th Marine Amphibious Brigade, em- barked onboard the USS Mount Whitney (LCC-20) serving first a.s the G-5, Plans Chief and then the G-3, Operations Chief conducting several major NATO Exerci.ses in North- em Norway, Denmark and Germany. In August 1984, fol- lowing his promotion to Master Sergeant, he was trans- ferred to Headquarters, Allied Forces Northern Europe where he served until June 1986 as the Ground Operations Chief. During this period he was redesignated as a First Sergeant. Transferred during June 1 986 to the I st Marine Division, Sergeant Major Tasker was a.ssigned as the First Sergeant for Company I, Third Battalion. I si Marines where he served until following his selection for Sergeant Major he was muisferred during July 1989 to Recruiting Station, San Diego, Ca. as the Station Sergeant Major. Completing his third tour of Recruiting Duty, he was transferred back to the 1st Marine Division where he served consecutively as the Battalion Sergeant Major of 1st Battalion, 1st Marines »» - and then the 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Bati Sergeant Major Tasker assumed his current position as the Sergeant Major, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) during June 1994. Sergeant Major Tasker ' s personal decorations include the Navy Achievement M edal and three Meritorious Service Medal. Sergeant Major Tasker is married to the former Dianne Konopka of New Hampshire. They have two children; Tammie and Kristie.

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BATTALION LANDING TEAM (Ground Combat Element ) [GCE) compound The 24th MEU (SOC) calls in Thailand, Singapore and Hong Kong, the MEU returned to the United States on 16 March 1994 to begin immediate plans for the next pre-deployment workup period scheduled to begin in April 1994. The 13th MEU (SOC) began its eighth Western Pacific deployment 25 October 1995 only seven months after returning to Camp Pendleton. The MEU conducted its first scheduled exercise on Okinawa, 11- 13 November. Immediately following its completion the MEU conducted a liberty port call in Hong Kong and then sailed south to Singapore to conduct 5 days of bilateral training with the Singaporean Defense Forces. Following the training in Singapore the 13th MEU (SOC) sailed north to the Persian Gulf and came under operational control of COMUSNAVCENT. During the time the MEU was deployed in the Persian Gulf they conducted three major exercises: Eager Mace 95-1 in Kuwait, Nautical Mantis 95-1 in Saudi Arabia, and Iron Magic 95-2 in the United Arab Emirates. Each of these exercises involved extensive bilateral training with the host nation and all were dubbed a success. Additionally during this period the MEU conducted a real world Maritime Interdiction OperatiorWisit Board Search and Seizure (MIOA BSS) mission aboard the Honduran flagged Merchant Vessel Ajmer which was in violation of United Nations sanctions with Iraq. During January 1995 the 13th MEU (SOC) received an execute order to conduct Operation United Shield; the withdrawal of UNOSOM forces from Somalia. Immediately after receiving this warning order the MEU sailed south to Africa and conducted operational rehearsals in Kenya. On 3 February 1995 the MEU was in position off the coast of Somalia and began conducting initial reconnaissance of the operational area and liaison with UNOSOM forces. Early morning on 28 February 1 3th MEU (SOC) conducted an amphibious assault onto Somalia soil and began executing a relief-in-place with UNOSOM forces. By 2 March the withdrawal of all MARINE EXPEDITIONARY UNIT (MEU) COMMAND ELEMENT SQUADRON (Reinforced) I Aviation Combat Element ) (ACE) SERVICE SUPPORT ELEMENT (Combat Service Support Elemenl) (CSSE) PERSONNEL 2.050 Marines; 100 U.S.Navy personnel. Total: 2.150 GROUND FORCES EQUIPMENT 5 Tanks and or 8-17 Light Armored Vehicles (LAV) 8 8IMm Mortars 32 Dragon Missile Launcheis (anti-armor) 8 TOW missile launchers (tube-launched, optically sighted. wire-guided anti-armor) 12 amphibious assault vehicles 4 155mm howitzers 4 1 OSnun howitzers AIRCRAFT AND MISSILES 12 CH-46 medium-lift assault helicopters 4 CH-53 heavy lift assault transport helicopters 3 UH-1 utility helicopters 4 AH- 1 attack helicopters - The squadron could be rein- forced by one VMA Det (6 AV-8B) Venical Short Takeoff and Landmg (V STOLl attack aircraft and 2 KC- 1 30 aenal refuelers as the laciical situation dictates. ) 5 Stinger surface-to-air missile teams While the numbers of per- sonnel and types and quan- tities of equipment shown here are typical of those for a MEU, the actual numbers vary; prior to deployment, an MEU is tailored to meet specific or anticipated mis- sion requirements. MEU COMMAND ELEMENT Surveillance. Reconnais- sance and Inielligence Delachmcm REIN HELICOPTER SQUADRON REIN INFANTRY BATTALION CSSE MEU SERVICE SUPPORT GROUP MOTOR TRANSPORT PLATOON MARINE AIR CONTROL GROUP (DETACHMEhfT) i ASSAULT MPH1BIAN PLATOON -Tanks. LAVS, or twn COMBAT ENGINEER PLATOON LANDING SUPPORT PLATOON ENGINEER SUPPORT PLATOON UNOSOM forces was complete and during the first hours of 3 March, the final Marine forces departed Somali soil. Operation United Shield was a complete success. Following Operation United Shield the 1 3th MEU (SOC) sailed south to Perth, Australia for a port call and some well deserved liberty. After leaving Australia the MEU sailed north to Okinawa to conduct an LCAC turnover with the 3 1 st MEU and proceeded southeast to Hawaii.