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BMU2 Shares Experience of Saipan ESG Deployment

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070110-07
Release Date: 1/10/2007 1:55:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman John Suits, Fleet Public Affairs Center Atlantic

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (NNS) -- Beach Master Unit (BMU) 2 returned to their homeport at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek Dec. 22, after a six-month deployment aboard the amphibious transport dock ships USS Nashville (LPD 13) and USS Trenton (LPD 14), elements of the USS Saipan (LHA 2) Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG).

BMU 2 provided beach and surf zone salvage support in the landing and movement of troops, equipment, and supplies.

One of the biggest operations performed by BMU 2 was participation in the evacuation of American citizens from Lebanon. The Officer in Charge (OIC) of Beach Party Team 1, Ensign David Williams, who was aboard Nashville, spoke about the array of challenges the units faced.

“Our workups were non-combatant evacuations, which we’ve never done before,” Williams said. “There was a lot that happened that we were trained for, and the lessons learned from the Lebanon evacuation will be instituted not only at this command, but with the Marines and Assault Craft Unit.”

When Nashville and Trenton arrived in Lebanon, BMU 2 helped transport more than 2,000 Americans to the ships from ashore.

“Seeing my team put everything aside to ensure everyone had food and water, and that families were kept together was very rewarding for me to see,” said Chief Boatswain’s Mate (SW/AW) John Elkins, OIC of Beach Party Team 2, embarked aboard Trenton.

Sailors worked closely with Marines throughout the deployment to ensure the mission at hand was executed in an expeditious manner.

“We assisted Marine Expeditionary Unit 24 onload and offload personnel and cargo in Jordan,” said Operations Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Shane Unger, emergency medical technician for BMU 2’s Team 1 aboard Nashville. “We also transferred weapons and supplies to Iraq and performed security patrols for drug and weapons trafficking in the North Persian Gulf.”

The team aboard Trenton performed operations off the Horn of Africa in search of pirates who had been raiding supply ships.

“We captured two pirates that were injured and turned them over to medical to be treated,” said Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class (SW) Kevin Lesh, salvage officer of Beach Party Team 2.

BMU 2 overall was able to expedite their mission effectively with the help of all the Sailors of the Saipan ESG.

“I have nothing but praise to the crew of the Nashville. I think we were more than ready to take on a task of that magnitude, and we had a plan for every possible scenario,” said Williams.