President Bush Departs Iwo Jima
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS050912-10
Release Date: 9/12/2005 4:24:00 PM
By Journalist 1st Class (SW) Mike Jones, USS Iwo Jima Public Affairs
NEW ORLEANS (NNS) -- President George W. Bush departed USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) Sept. 12 after spending an evening aboard the multipurpose amphibious assault ship here.
The President had arrived aboard Iwo Jima Sept. 11 as part of his review of damages and recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
Bush surprised the crew of Iwo Jima when he appeared on the ship’s mess decks during breakfast hours and made himself available for photos and remarks to the crew.
“We’re serving at a time when all our skills and resources are needed to help people,” he told the crew. “I came by, not to check out the food – I came by to thank you for serving.”
“The great strength of this nation is the fact that there are millions of people, including you all, willing to dedicate time and effort to save lives,” Bush added. “And when we look back, you’ll be able to say that 'I did my part in lifting lives and saving lives.”
Immediately afterward, he attended a briefing in the ship’s wardroom, where Coast Guard Chief of Staff Vice Adm. Thad Allen detailed the ongoing recovery efforts taking place here.
Iwo Jima departed Norfolk Aug. 31 to join relief and recovery efforts along the Gulf Coast following Hurricane Katrina.
LHD 7 and the Amphibious Transport Dock USS Shreveport (LPD 12), as well as the Dock Landing Ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46) and the Rescue and Salvage Ship USS Grapple (ARS 53) – both based at Naval Amphibious Base (NAB) Little Creek, Va. - joined the Norfolk-based USS Bataan (LHD 5), which began providing relief assistance immediately following the hurricane.
Navy support elements from Mobile Diving Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2, Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 2 and Beach Master Unit (BMU) 2, also based at NAB Little Creek, established footholds in Gulfport and Biloxi, Miss., Sept. 4.
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