Kearsarge (LHD 3) - Naval Cruise Book

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.. , l.. if Images ond Journal QGO3 I- ef. X lg A iv Xf 5 I ...fi .er 15' , . ,l 1 l l i ll ci fi' R' . to 'S W-if Just days after announcing the end of major hostilities, word was received that the Marines from the 2D MEB would start to reconstitute. On 6 May, the very first Marines stepped foot back aboard KEARSARGE, 81 days after they had first gone ashore. Victorious in battle, it was evident by their appearance that the Marines had gone through hell. Covered in sand from head to foot, it was rumored some had seen a shower only twice or three times in almost three months. KEARSARGE was a welcome sight! ' As the Marines started to come back aboard, the ship continued to clean. The Shamal winds in the desert had deposited a heavy cover of sand throughout the ship. Nothing was immune. The sand in the desert is as fine as powder, it was in the ventilation, the passageways, the angle irons, the lights...everywhere. No space or person was exempt from its presence. Meanwhile, life continued to roll on as normal aboard the ship. Fuel and stores continued to come aboard, Petty Officer indoctrination was given to more than 60 Sailors who were going to be advanced to Third Class it v - - -. -H-4,-a-w 'X K A . 'GLSOII Petty Officer and awards ceremonies were held to recognize so many who had gone above and beyond average to support the ship's u successful participation in the war. - dl M G y IA!-.YIM

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W Y lm and Journal 1 6 -.x l li- 1 :S .1-f Zr,'i',' .Ja . ., pg 'lrluunnu I . XX. .iff U ' iw i - Q, vi M 8,5 ' I I 'Q K M X . t . iii 5.4.4 'W l Mo While the wash down continued at Kuwait Naval Base, the Marines continued to arrive back aboard the ship. Returning from as far north as Baghdad, the Marines had to ensure every piece of gear and every vehicle was thoroughly washed before it was moved back to the ship via helicopter and LCAC. An aggressive agricultural inspection was necessary to ensure the ship didn't carry anything back to the U.S. that could cause illness or pollute the environment. On 18 May, the last Marine stepped off a helicopter aboard KEARSARGE marking an end to the back load that took 13 days. The crew fully understood that, although more than 8,000 miles away, homecoming was now in sight. With the back load complete, the number of smiles aboard the ship increased ten- fold. The ship had deployed the Marines on time, and now could rest easy that the mission to get them back aboard was also complete. y NlAYf'?l I