• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Iwo Jima Celebrates Fourth Birthday

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS050705-09
Release Date: 7/5/2005 1:54:00 PM

By Journalist 1st Class (SW) Mike Jones, USS Iwo Jima Public Affairs

ABOARD USS IWO JIMA, At Sea (NNS) -- USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) celebrated its fourth birthday with a cake-cutting ceremony as the ship steamed underway June 30.

The multipurpose amphibious assault ship's commanding officer, Capt. Richard S. Callas, and Bluejacket of the Quarter, Hull Technician 3rd Class Braden Handley, were key participants in the ceremony, held on the mess decks.

“There is a living history aboard this ship and a truly stellar work ethic demonstrated in each and every crew member on board,” remarked Callas. “In just four short years, the Sailors assigned here have shown that LHD 7 is an absolutely pivotal asset to the fleet.”

LHD 7 is the second ship to bear the name "Iwo Jima." The first, LPH 2, was designed from the keel up as an amphibious assault ship and was launched September 17, 1960 at Bremerton, Wash., and commissioned August 26, 1961. LPH 2 was decommissioned in 1993.

Fabrication work for the current USS Iwo Jima began at Ingalls shipyard on September 3, 1996, and the ship's keel was laid on December 12, 1997. She was launched on February 4, 2000.

LHD 7 was christened by her sponsor, Mrs. Zandra Krulak, in Pascagoula, Mississippi on March 25, 2000.

The commissioning crew moved aboard in April of 2001, and made the ship's maiden voyage (accompanied by more than 2,000 World War II veterans - many of them survivors of the Battle of Iwo Jima) on June 23, 2001. She was commissioned a week later in Pensacola, Florida, on June 30, 2001. Shortly thereafter, the ship and crew began an accelerated Inter-Deployment Training Cycle, which tested virtually every system on board under simulated combat conditions.

A large number of the crew have served aboard LHD 7 since its commissioning four years ago. Many of these Plankowners have elected to extend their tours aboard.
“I raised the National Ensign on board at the moment the ship was put into commission by Secretary of the Navy Gordon England,” Aerographer's Mate 1st Class (SW/AW) Lars Bogie proudly explained. “Volunteering for that detail was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I’m glad to have been a part of it.” Bogie is unique among the Plankowners aboard, in that he also served aboard the previous USS Iwo Jima.

Together with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) (MEU (SOC)), Iwo Jima completed her maiden, eight-month deployment in October 2003.

Completing essentially four deployments in one, Iwo Jima's operational capabilities were put to the test as the ship inserted marines from the 26th MEU (SOC) into Northern Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom, patrolled the Persian Gulf in stifling summer heat, conducted operations in and around Djibouti as part of Operation Enduring Freedom, and spearheaded a peacekeeping mission off the coast of the war-torn nation of Liberia.

The ship transited the Strait of Gibraltar, Suez Canal, Bab El Mandeb, and the Strait of Hormuz twice each on its 45,000-nautical-mile maiden deployment.

Most recently, LHD 7 honored the 60th anniversary of the ship’s namesake with a sunset reception honoring the veterans of the Battle of Iwo Jima. A memorial wall was unveiled at the event, bearing the names of those who made the ultimate sacrifice during the campaign.