USS Essex
1/29/2011 
Sailors and Marines unload 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit armories and equipment from a Landing Craft Utility 1634 to USS Denver 

OKINAWA, Japan (Jan. 27, 2011) - Sailors and Marines unload 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit armories and equipment from a Landing Craft Utility 1634 to the amphib)ious transport dock USS Denver (LPD 9). Denver is part of the forward-deployed Essex Amphibious Ready Group and is currently underway in the Western Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Geronimo C. Aquino
Essex ARG Embarks 31st MEU, Sails from Okinawa 
By Story by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Casey H. Kyhl, Navy Public Affairs Support Element, Japan 
OKINAWA, Japan – The Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) departed Okinawa, Japan Jan. 29 after onloading components of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) Jan. 27-28. 

The ARG’s deployment throughout the Western Pacific region will include a series of bilateral military and maritime training exercises designed to build relationships and enhance operational readiness between the U.S. and its partner nations.

“The purpose of this deployment is to exhibit forward presence,” said Capt. Bradley Lee, Commander, Amphibious Squadron 11. “We want to show our partners in this region that we are here to help, and have the assets to handle almost anything.”

Amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2), amphibious transport dock ship USS Denver (LPD 9), and the amphibious dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42) embarked more than 2,200 Marines during the onload. Sailors and Marines teamed up and loaded 150 vehicles and 2100 short-tons of equipment in less than 48 hours.

“The onload is new for everyone on this crew,” said Gunnery Sgt. Steven R. Jones, Essex’s senior combat cargo assistant. “We finished ahead of schedule, which is rare with a new crew. For a ship this size, it usually takes three days to load, but this time it took half the time.”

Amid exercises involving the militaries of long standing allies, port visits will provide Sailors and Marines the opportunity to lend a helping hand to local communities through community service projects.

“We have a great crew of Sailors and now a full load of capable Marines,” said Lee. “We have a lot planned for this deployment and stand ready to respond to any unforeseen events.”

The Essex ARG reports to Commander, Amphibious Force 7th Fleet, Rear Adm. Richard Landolt, who is headquartered on Okinawa, Japan.
US Navy Recruiting | No Fear Act | FOIA | USA.gov | US Navy | US Marine Corps | Navy Reserves | Individual Augmentee | Veterans Crisis Line This is an official United States Navy Website. This US Government system is subject to monitoring. Please read our Privacy Policy notice.

The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the United States Department of Defense, or the United States Department of the Navy of the linked web sites, or the information, products or services contained therein. For other than authorized activities such as military exchanges and Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) sites, the United States Department of Defense, the Department of the Navy  does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations. Such links are provided consistent with the stated purpose of this DoD web site.
Share