Kearsarge (LHD 3) - Naval Cruise Book

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I ietsel Jlc9mSll'rGk9Il ' s if ,b.1 - - 1 is Y , a ',, 'g-,A .:f, I A . ff Q L 1 V, I ' .. A V I ,f ly Kg! -'1 .-AA - 5 1 'L g ' I ' , 2475: I :NNI it ' ,f I ':. ms. if f-1 wg! , '-ree. i . , y , ' - sv ..J' I I , - . X ,xl l I . ' 1 , 4.4. . .5-- fa s' . 1 ' 1 -wg.. fn. . 4 ' ,gn-1 1 l b s IP: - 5 2 . ' 'Z X ,,,1 -af' 2 I V - QY.-'Q , .4-il' X I J - L. --W -fi TQYE5' ' cf in . an . ?' KEARSARGE First Lieutenant Lt. Crndr: Dan Riley echoed Master Gunnery Sgt. Farr 's comments. Doing this safely is our most important goal, he said. We 're going to be working a lot of long hours, and we don 't want any injured Sailors and Marines, or damaged equipment. Lt. Crndr: Riley runs KEARSARGE 's Deck Department and is responsible for the ship 's well deck and vehicle storage decks. The ship will be at anchor during the operation, so the Deck Department will man all the ship 's sea and anchor' watches in addition to conducting the ojfload. :'Heat and fatigrte are two Qi Ulll' biggest concerns, he corrtrrrued. Proper hydration becomes an even larger issue when people are ti red. 2 Division Leading Petty Qlllfft' BM I l S WXAWI Melvin Morris oversees the process of 'f'fl 1s equipment and materiel onto the LCACs. All fllf' Marine equipment aboard KEARSARGE was loaded in Norfolk. Va.. and of the coast Hear Camp Lejeune, N. C. Our onload was ideal, Morris said. It went verjv smoothly, especially considering we didn 't have any ramp-up training with the Marines before we left. The LCACs are already loaded with the gear the Mariizes want on the beach first. It was the last gear loaded, he continued. All the heavy equipment will go first, then supplies. Finally, personnel will go out on the LCA Cs using Personnel Transport Modules l PTM 1. Despite the prospect of long hours arzd styling heat and humidity, the Sailors in Deck Department aren 't complaining. l We 're ready to do this, Lt. Cmdr: Riley said. While some Marines will land using the PTMs on the LCACs, the rncqority will go ashore aboard CH-53 helicopters from KEARSARGE 's Flight Deck. Again, coordination is key. Air Department Leading Chief Petty Officer ABHCSlAW!SW1 Jim Lynch said the 75 flight deck ashore will be riding in by helicopter: That means our Aircraft Handlers and l Aviation Fuels Division personnel will be working I 6- hour days, Lynch said. They 'll be tired, but they 're motivated because this is what they 've trainedihrrz KEARSARGE Commanding Officer Capt. Terry McKnight summed it up. This is the graduation cerernonyjbr the short course the Magnyicent Seven l the ship ofAmphibious Task Force East 1 took getting here, Capt.McKnight said. We got our Marines here .safely and on time, fliiyfll -s 9 A., ready' to execute their mission. The offload will require a lot ty'orclrestration between all the ships. It 's going to be a coordinated effort by all hands to get the troops ashore safely. K EARSARGE will remain in the GuUQ ready to receive Marines as well. This is their home, Capt. McKnight concluded. VW' 'll be waitingfor them when they return. FEBPlJARYt4'r

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Off-loading the Marines on time meant KEARSARGE had accomplished its first major mission. The off load was bittersweet for the crew because while it was going to be nice to have more room on the ship, and smaller lines, everyone knew deep inside that our Marines were quite possibly headed for combat. The news continued to warn of conflict, and in the 45-50 days we had been at sea, the crew had come to know the Marines as friends. l,...?......-7-4 -- ---f - F 1 .falgnl 2 fn, . ,, 'i I .lb J' ke l y,a ,Q , I If ryYil'lPi1'i-'X' lf