Kearsarge (LHD 3) - Naval Cruise Book

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lm and loutnal 5.9! PE L X 'lx .f v J gvn ng. I A I S f 3 f 1 2 '5 L i il ' f ' ,- -- . .f , KU , I: A J 4 r 2 Q .lg , ' . - Xr . .. He himself was later assassinated several years later: and the whole country was plunged into a multi -jlrctional civil war lfrseverr terrible years in the early 1990 's. Aj?er hundreds of thousands died, one ofthe warlortls. Charles laylon carrre to power and was elected President of Lilreria, in 1997. , Liberia i.s a land rich in natural resources, like gold and diamonds. oil. iron ore. timber: and is the home ofFirestone 's rrurssrx-e rubber plantation. Ury'ortunately, under 7aylor's oppressive rule. Liberia has slippedjurrlrer and becorrre the world 's prrrrresrc'orrr1trjy: and arguably has the most abused civilian population in the world. Not only that, but Liberia has become the epicenter ofinstabilitv throughout West Africa. and hundreds oftlrousurrds more lure been slaughtered brutally in neighboring countries as a result of Taylor 's military adventures and sponsorship of rrr.xrrrgerrcie.s'. This is also a countrjv where it 's own militarjv and militias as well as two separates rebel armies prey upon the llllrtrcertl. This must not arzd will not continue. And indeed, while you were here. the United States has helped to broker a signed f'f'-Wthre agreement that has stopped the fighting of three separate arrrries. Much remains to be done to shore up this success. for exanrple, verification and rrrorritorirrg ofthe ceasegfire. mmmjig of the ceasefire also sets the stagefor the departure of President Taylor? which Irie lras now lzfdged dx. 3 W an I me mumiongrrr ernment is now berng.d1scussed to take powenjollowed byuheeelectrons. he no rnrsru' 4.12 rrslrsrrr' Jnlclglr' Lf xhmqmerw 'slmglle-brat now there is hope for a neu: j5'ee. Liberia, and stalnlrtv m West Aft u a. an: an c nz o ns rug c I I ul srdferrng. and M ,i:2Zre.serrc'e here has demonstrated that Arrrerica has not forgotten its. Sl6'Il-Tkllllj liilrerial as D IrrtfrtltirrrriitsllrczfQ 'wwf' ' fl1V 5llllC:fllt'Il1el' into total drsrntegratron and become a Sonralra West . a am .sn ren any xg, 1, . . , 'W VPS. Lrberra rs a jailed-state, but the time may be at hand fri'-Deedorn and peace to rerur rr to Liber ur. ' . haw U Ifso' 0 behay of my small crem the last western Embassy still open, whose white walls and concertrrru woe you nugln- ' H PS0ll-rnany thanks for your help. Like you, we too will never' give up on tlrejiglrtjorfreedorrr wlrerever rt may Ire. As Ilr , , , A , , , , ' 'ffm'-Svrrtatrve ofthe President ofthe United States. l thank you for you gallanrrjv. and wrslr you u safeurour ney lrorm. J U n e JUNE 93

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fr-11 -4'1 3 'f Jxyf' -f 4'r: 7 Y -in A I , - ., V W I I m 0 ge an 6 r . Few fl 20 O 3 xl 1 R .l , S' 1. ' . O N- Af ' 4 I ' 'X o- ' U 5 , 4 501 'g x as . While the crew watched the news every day, there were conflicting reports as to how great o a problem there was in Liberia. On June 18 word came down that KEARSARGE and the 2D MEB were free to head for home. Although homecoming was L, ' ' ' originally slated for 26 fx June, the cost of the trip g .sf gk, south only cost the ship Ar'-1 four days. Homecoming fy? f. -ff was announced as 30 1- ,T . June. I Preparations began '- ' immediately for the final off load of the 2D MEB, the liger Cruise ithat needed to be re-announcedl and homecoming. The intensity of planning on the ship seemed to envelop everyone. For many, focus turned from at-sea operations to figuring out what the routine was going to be when we returned. Leave 1 I plans had to be re-worked and the term INSURV I - started to be talked about A with vigor. U AP v On 22 June the ship had I its final Steel Beach Picnic. ' ,- Just days away from the - - North Carolina coast, the l - ,if entire crew was u beat 4 P and ready to off-load the 2D MEB. ll ' l x ' it: 3 -2 A' I 1 0 ' J U n e HINI IH