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Kearsarge, 2D MEB Support Presidential Summits In Egypt And Jordan

Navy Newsstand

Story Number: NNS030610-43

Release Date: 6/10/2003 3:20:00 PM

By Journalist 1st Class Chris Hoffpauir, USS Kearsarge Public Affairs

ABOARD USS KEARSARGE, At sea (NNS) -- USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) and the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade (2D MEB) stood on station in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba, in support of President George W. Bush's visits to Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt, June 3 and Aqaba, Jordan, June 4.

The president was in the Middle East to take part in two historic Summit meetings with Arab leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.

Kearsarge and the 2D MEB are returning from a deployment in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Kearsarge's homecoming is set for June 26.

The ship's primary mission was to provide a level-two medical facility with trauma capability in the vicinity of the president's visits to Egypt and Jordan. The timing of Kearsarge's passage through the Red Sea, coupled with ship's robust medical facility, augmented by Fleet Surgical Team 8, made it the ship of choice for the mission.

The ship's secondary mission was to provide surveillance, and if required, air and sea-borne extraction teams to deliver the president and other officials to safety in case of emergency.

"This mission proved the inherent flexibility of our naval forces," 2D MEB Commanding General, Brig. Gen. Richard F. Natonski said. "There were two MEUs (Marine Expeditionary Units), the 15th in the Gulf of Oman and the 26th in the Adriatic Sea, but neither was close enough to make it to the Gulf of Aqaba in the timeframe allowed for the president's visit. The closest naval force at hand was Amphibious Task Force East, steaming up the Red Sea on its way home from Operation Iraqi Freedom."

"We put together a force aboard Kearsarge," the general continued, "utilizing this platform because of its command and control capabilities and its flexibility. You have a surface and helo capability built in."

A few additional assets were brought aboard specifically for the mission, including AH-1W Cobra attack helicopters and additional Explosive Ordnance Disposal and communications personnel.

According to Kearsarge Commanding Officer, Capt. Terence E. McKnight, the ship was chosen for the mission, because it already had the right mix of assets aboard to cover a broad range of contingencies.

"Operations like this usually take three or four weeks to plan," McKnight said. "We were able to plan and put everything together in a 72-hour period. We already had all the pieces in place, and we were ready to go if called upon."

Before the order came to change course and head for Aqaba, Kearsarge was due to transit the Suez Canal and visit the Mediterranean port city of Valletta, Malta, where the crew would have had a few days off. It would have been the first liberty port of the deployment. Despite the port call's cancellation, the crew remained upbeat and ready to serve their commander-in-chief.

"There was no more important mission in the world at the time than the mission to support the president of the United States," said Natonski.

McKnight agreed, "The crew reacted pretty well. They understand that while we're out here on deployment, we have various missions that we have to perform. Until we tie the ship up to the pier in Norfolk, we can be called upon at any time.

"The crew was probably a little disappointed that we missed out on our port visit to Malta. But I think as long as we get home on time, they'll be satisfied."

Kearsarge and the 2D MEB, along with USS Vandegrift (FFG 48), were designated Task Force 52 by Commander, 5th Fleet and placed under Natonski's command.

"In effect, you had a Marine officer in exercising control over two Navy ships," the general said. The 2D MEB had 400 Marines from 3rd Battalion, 2D Marines on stand-by, ready to respond on a moment's notice, either by helicopter or by Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC).

Kearsarge's Deck Department also stood ready to respond. The LCACs of Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 4 were preloaded and ready to launch with all the gear and vehicles the Marines might need.

According to the ship's Assistant First Lieutenant, Lt. j.g. Richie Enriquez, Deck Department and ACU-4 were in alert-15 status for two and a half days. It would have only taken 15 minutes from the "go" order for the ship's well deck to be flooded, the stern gate lowered, the Marines loaded, and the LCAC launched.

The ship's Air Department maintained a similar responsive posture.

"We were at flight quarters for 60 straight hours," said Kearsarge Air Officer Cmdr. John Funk. "Every aircraft on the ship was on standby.

AH-1W Cobras from Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 269 (HML/A-269); CH-53 Super Stallions from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 464; and CH-46 Sea Knights from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron (HMM)365 and Navy Helicopter Combat Support Squadron (HC) 8 stood ready on the flight deck.

"Just as the president told us to be ready after Sept. 11, 2001," Funk continued, "the Air Department was ready to provide any necessary air support."

During the president's visit to Sharm el-Sheik, Kearsarge remained in the northern Red Sea, while Vandegrift took up station off Aqaba. That allowed for seamless coverage of the president's transit from Egypt to Jordan.

Once the president departed Sharm el-Sheik, Kearsarge immediately moved to join Vandegrift off Aqaba for the remainder of the president's stay.

This wasn't the first time Kearsarge has been called upon to support President Bush's travels abroad. During the ship's 2001 Mediterranean deployment, the ship performed a similar mission off the Italian coast while the president attended the G8 Summit in Genoa.

"Whenever the president is away from a trauma facility and a ship is deployed in the area, it can be called upon for support," McKnight explained. "This ship has great capabilities, and it's one of the things we have to be prepared to do when the president is overseas."

Both Natonski and McKnight were invited to Sharm el-Sheik on the morning of June 4 to briefly meet with President Bush before he departed for Aqaba. The president expressed his gratitude for what the nation's people in uniform have accomplished, and thanked the Sailors and Marines aboard Kearsarge and Vandegrift for their efforts.

With the president's return to the United States, Kearsarge resumed its long voyage home. The ship is due to first offload the Marines of 2D MEB at Camp Lejeune, N.C., starting June 22, with a June 26 homecoming in Norfolk, Va.