Rushmore (LSD 47) - Naval Cruise Book

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7 '-N '- , X MA? 2' 29' fi Y r ls W H 0 Cla ton ander Y aunders Sail safe RIflSl1l?10l'C?. Commander Saunders, a native of Frankfort, Illinois, received his commission following graduation from the United States Naval Academy in 1984. He earned a M.S. Degree in Operations Research from the Naval Postgraduate School in l99l and graduated with highest distinction from the Naval War College in 2002. Commander Saunders' initial sea assignment was in Little Creelt. Virginia as Damage Fontrnl Assistant onhoard USS SPARTANl3llRG C'Ol lN'l'Y tl,S'I' l 1929. His next assignment was as Navigator in USS RIVIIARD li. BYRD HJDU 23y in Noilollt. Virginia. lfollowing graduate studies ashore, llc returned to l,itlle Creek to serve as lingineer t lllieer in l lSS HARLAN C'UllN'l'Y tl ,ST I IOM. His most recent tour at sea was as Executive Ul'l'it'el' ol USS GliRlVlAN'l'OWN tl .SID 421.

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Early on the morning of March 2152 four LCAC's launched from Rushmore, fully armed and loaded, ready to carry the combat ready British force into Iraq. But even as the LCAC's closed the distance to the Iraqi shore, plans began to change as allied forces moved through Iraqi defenses with unanticipated speed. For everyone aboard the LCAC's, this meant that their part of the plan had become fluid. In the end the decision was made for the British forces to drive into Iraq. The LCAC's landed near the Iraqi border in Kuwait and quickly cleared their decks, sending the British troops on their way to where they were needed. With scarcely enough time to rest, a new mission soon presented itself as a result of a major sandstorm that tore through the region shortly after the start of the war. Two Naval Special Warfare Rigid Hull Inflateable Boats CRHIBSJ had run themselves aground off the coast of Iraq. Over the course of the next two days various recovery options were considered for the boats but it was eventually decided that the only effective way to conduct the recovery would be with LCAC,s. Once again, Rushmore was called into action. Early the next moming, two LCAC's departed Rushmore and flew to USS Anchorage CLSD 365 where they picked up Explosive Ordinance Disposal CEODJ personnel and a Naval Construction Battalion loader and operator. Following the short stop, the group continued on toward Iraq. Upon arriving at the boats' location, one craft took up a security watch position while the other launched the EOD group to check for mines in the vicinity of the RHIBS. Once the area was deemed clear, the recovery craft moved in close enough to unreel the loader's winch line. With the LCAC's in position and the route to the objectives clear, it was time for a little fun as nearly everyone jumped in the mud to help haul the line out to the lt' RHIB. By mid-day both boats had been hauled out and retumed to deep water. It was a successful recovery operation and another first for the LCAC's and Rushmore. The rest of the war saw Rushmore spending the majority of the time standing by in her box and carrying out supporting operations for flight ops on the big-deck amphibs. It wasn't long, however, before Rushmore was given her final objective of the war, backload the Marines. The major combat actions of Operation Iraqi Freedom were quickly drawing to completion and the Marines who came halfway across the world with Rushmore would soon be returning. In early June, Rushmore finally departed the Arabian Gulf. The day was marked by what most of the Sailors and Marines remember as the most beautiful evening they had ever seen. The ever-present brown cast of the atmosphere in The Gulf' was finally gone and as the sky turned from a perfect blue into brilliant shades of orange and red, Rushmore made a slow tum east toward home. It would not however, mark the end of Rushmore's missions. On the last full day of the deployment, Rushmore was diverted to carry out the rescue of a civilian on a pleasure boat off the coast of Baja California. The operator of the boat had experienced medical problems and the boat had been adrift for many days. Rushmore took on a helicopter from the Tarawa and made best speed to close the distance between her and the vessel. The rescue was finally carried out and Rushmore resumed her course for home. On July 13th the Marines were offloaded at Camp Pendelton and by early evening the pier at San Diego was finally in sight. Rushmore had missed the fanfare and attention that the other two ships of the ARG had received but the sight of family and friends waiting on the pier more than made up for it. When the word was finally passed, secure from WESTPAC 2003. a cheer went up from the ship and pier that signaled, for everyone, the end of Rushmore's first war-time deployment. -

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Commander Saunders' shore assignments include duty as Material Officer for Commander Amphibious Squadron TEN 3 Assistant Material Officer and Engineering Readiness Assistance Team Coordinator for Commander Amphibious Group TWOQ and Exercise Planner for Commander U.S. Naval Central C0mmand!FlFT H Fleet in Bahrain. I-Ie served as an Associate Fellow in the Chief of Naval Operations, Strategic Studies Group XX, in Newport, Rhode Island. Commander Saunders' personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal Ctwo awardsj, and various campaign and unit awards. He assumed command of USS RUSHMORE CLSD 473 on August 16. 2002.