NAVY WIRE SERVICE - A WIRE (NWSA) - 9 February 1998 -
NWSA9feb-1. Mediterranean Amphibious Ready Group heads
for Arabian Gulf
NWSA9feb-2. Two Marine jets collide over Arabian Gulf
NWSA9feb-1. Mediterranean Amphibious Ready Group heads for Arabian Gulf
by JOC Doug Hummel, USS Guam Public Affairs
EN ROUTE ARABIAN GULF (NWSA) -- Sailors aboard USS Guam (LPH
9), USS Shreveport (LPD 12), USS Oak Hill (LSD 51), USS Ashland (LSD
49) and Marines of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special
Operations Capable) are heading to the Arabian Gulf.
"We are to be part of additional U.S. forces of all the
services that are being sent to the Gulf to beef up our forces that
are already there," announced CAPT William J. Luti, Guam's
commanding officer, to the crew of the amphibious assault ship.
As USS Guam, flagship of the Mediterranean Amphibious Ready
Group (MARG) 98-1, was underway to a scheduled port visit to Koper,
Slovenia, it received the order to divert its transit and drop
anchor in Augusta Bay, Italy. As the other three MARG ships steamed
toward Guam, Task Force 61 made preparations for all four ships to
enter the Suez Canal on Feb. 9.
"I'm happy that we're getting this opportunity to put all our
training to use. I know we're ready," said Petty Officer 2nd Class
Paul F. Parrish Jr., from Stapleton, Ga.
CAPT Phil Sowa, embarked Commander of the Amphibious Ready
Group, said, "Our forces have trained hard throughout the current
deployment and are ready to go whenever and wherever called. This is
what we prepare for on a daily basis, and something the Navy has
repeatedly demonstrated throughout the 90's by projecting power
ashore quickly in trouble spots around the globe."
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NWSA9feb-2. Two Marine jets collide over Arabian Gulf
by 5th Fleet Public Affairs
ARABIAN GULF (NWSA) -- Two F/A-18s attached to Marine Strike
Fighter Squadron (VMFA) 251 aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73)
collided in mid-air over the Arabian Gulf on Feb. 6 during routine
flight operations.
The incident happened approximately 80 miles east of Kuwait
City.
Marine Corps Lt.Col. Henry G. Van Winkle, age 41, of
Kirkwood, N.Y., died after the mishap. He was the executive officer
of VMFA-251, based at Marine Corps Station Beaufort, S.C.
Maj. Cary D. Venden, age 37, of Conroe, Texas, VMFA-251
operations officer, is listed in good condition after the mishap.
An investigation into the cause of the accident is underway.
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