• Military Menu                       

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

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Nassau Onloads 22nd MEU for Deployment

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS051104-04
Release Date: 11/4/2005 2:19:00 PM

By Journalist Seaman Apprentice Charles A. Ordoqui, Fleet Public Affairs Center Atlantic

NAVAL STATION NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- Elements of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) (Special Operations Capable) (SOC) from Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., began loading equipment, vehicles and supplies Oct. 31 onto the Norfolk-based amphibious assault ship USS Nassau (LHA 4), in preparation for a regularly scheduled deployment in support of the global war on terrorism.

According to Cmdr. Ed Murdock, operations officer aboard Nassau, Sailors and Marines worked in concert to ensure personnel and supplies were stored and secured for deployment.

“We worked well with the Marines and made sure we had space for everything,” said Murdock.

“We have a really good relationship with the Navy guys,” added Marine Master Sgt. Thomas J. Evans, senior combat cargo assistant aboard Nassau. "We work side-by-side [with the Navy] to make sure everything runs smoothly."

The MEU is composed of four basic elements: a command element, ground combat element, air combat element and the MEU service support group, each of which must be moved aboard Nassau for deployment.

An amphibious assault ship is designed to accommodate more than 40 helicopters and 1 to 4 landing craft. In addition, the more than 1,500 personnel of the 22nd MEU require thousands of pounds of supplies for them to function as a unit during a deployment.

While the Marines have an important job to do, their ability to work as a team with Sailors is vital to mission accomplishment.

“We’ve done three work-ups with the MEU, and each time it (the Navy/Marine Corps relationship) just gets better and better,” said Evans.

“Everybody’s pitching in so we can get this on-load completed,” said Marine Sgt. Daniel E. Streeter, platoon sergeant and supervisor of well deck loading operations.

Nassau, the lead ship of the Nassau Expeditionary Strike Group, which includes the guided-missile cruiser USS Cape St. George (CG 71), USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81), amphibious assault ship USS Austin (LPD 4) and dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) and attack submarine USS Norfolk (SSN 714), will deploy from Naval Station Norfolk Nov. 7 to travel to Moorehead City, N.C., to load the remaining 1,500 personnel and equipment of the 22nd MEU (SOC).