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Saipan Offloads Marines into Kuwait

Story Number: NNS030220-06
Release Date: 2/20/2003 10:03:00 AM

By Chief Journalist (SW) Dave Fliesen, USS Saipan Public Affairs

ABOARD USS SAIPAN, At Sea (NNS) -- Marines and Sailors launched from USS Saipan (LHA 2) by sea and air recently as they began the offload of forces from the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Battalion (MEB) and supporting units into Kuwait.

"Today is the day we have been working towards for the last 30 days - landing the green and blue team to carry out their missions," announced Capt. N.L. Hackney. "We have a bigger, higher calling as volunteers that serve our country, protect its interests.protect our way of life. We are protectors of freedom."

And that kind of protection takes great teamwork and many players.

"I ensure we keep to the landing force commander's landing plan," said Combat Cargo Officer Capt. Andrew Rose. "We've got to carry things out in order - to the letter. If he says tanks first and I send trucks, then his war-fighting capability is diminished. Everything has to come ashore in a strict timeline. It takes everyone working in concert with each other following the same script."

Saipan Air Boss Cmdr. M.J. McCloskey directs approaching aircraft to the ship with a ringside seat to it all.

"These Sailors and Marines are the hardest workers," said McCloskey. "They have the most dangerous job in the Navy - fixing 'em, fueling 'em, getting them ready to launch. They keep their head on a swivel listening to scratchy radios with aircraft turning around them. I never met a more dedicated group in all my life."

McCloskey explained the difference between his job in Primary Flight Control and Rose's position in Debarkation Control. "Our missions are very similar. The difference is in the speed of which things happen," he said. "We're both concerned with safety, timing and coordination with the bridge. It's all about patience -it takes a lot of coordination."

Rose explained that the flight deck moves at a quicker pace than the well deck.

To execute an amphibious landing of this magnitude with six other ships is a big endeavor, especially for a ship that had to suddenly deploy and quickly pull things together.

"This is like going from spring training to the world series overnight," remarked Rose, who noted that it takes many players to make an offload possible.

"More Marines than I can count have commented to me on the tremendous support on this ship," said Rose. "Everybody down to the seaman holding the line has stepped up to the plate big. It's because of pride. We have a mission of epic proportion ahead of us, and they know that what they do right now saves lives in the long run."