ABOARD USS FORT MCHENRY AT SEA

A lance corporal receives a special memento from a master sergeant on the hangar bay after participating in a contest with other junior enlisted Marines attached to III Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) aboard USS Essex (LHD 2) Sept. 6. The contest was designed by Gunnery Sergeant Eric W. Gentzer to morale for all Marines attached to III MEF who were involved in an exercise for the first time. Essex was dispatched from its forward-deployed port of Sasebo, Japan, Sept. 4 to Pohang, Korea, to provide assistance and transportation the 900 Marines that were stranded because of Typhoon Rusa. The Marines had just finished participating in the combined exercise Ulchi Focus Lens with the Republic of Korea and United States Combined Forces Command. Essex is forward deployed to Sasebo, Japan  U.S.

 Navy Photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class (AW) Clover B. Christensen

ABOARD USS FORT MCHENRY AT SEA

Staff non-commissioned officers and junior enlisted Marines attached to III Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) gather in the hangar bay of USS Essex (LHD 2) Sept. 6 for a group photo after participating in a trivia contest designed to boost morale for all marines attached to III MEF who were involved in an exercise for the first time. Essex was dispatched from its forward-deployed port of Sasebo, Japan, Sept. 4 to Pohang, Korea, to provide assistance and transportation the 900 Marines that were stranded because of Typhoon Rusa. The Marines had just finished participating in the combined exercise Ulchi Focus Lens with the Republic of Korea and United States Combined Forces Command. Essex is forward deployed to Sasebo, Japan.

U.S. Navy Photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class (AW) Clover B. Christensen

ABOARD USS ESSEX AT SEA

A USS Essex (LHD 2) aviation machinist's mate maintains aircraft support equipment Sept. 7 in preparation for the fly-on of the Marine helicopters attached to Air Combat Element (ACE) of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). Essex arrived in Okinawa, Japan, Sept. 8 to onload the Marines and equipment of the 31st MEU. Once Essex gets underway for a semiannual joint exercise with the 31st MEU, over 30 aircraft from the ACE will fly aboard Essex.

U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class (AW) Gary B. Granger

ABOARD USS FORT MCHENRY AT SEA

A boatswain's mate uses hand signals to direct a crane operator to lower the hook of USS Fort McHenry's (LSD 43) 60 ton crane while bringing a Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat aboard the ship during Blue/Green workups Sept. 11. Fort McHenry, with Marine from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit embarked, is conducting Blue-Green Workups in the vicinity of Okinawa, Japan. The semiannual workups help blend the capabilities and techniques of the Navy/Marine Corps team into one cohesive team focusing on conducting amphibious operations in support of a wide range of contingencies, from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts, to full-scale combat operations.

Official U.S. Navy photo by Journalist Third Class Robert N. Sealover

ABOARD USS FORT MCHENRY AT SEA

Sailors from USS Fort McHenry's (LSD 43) deck department raise a Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) from the water during Blue-Green Workups Sept. 11. Fort McHenry, with Marine from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit embarked, is conducting Blue-Green Workups in the vicinity of Okinawa, Japan. The semiannual workups help blend the capabilities and techniques of the Navy/Marine Corps team into one cohesive team focusing on conducting amphibious operations in support of a wide range of contingencies, from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts, to full-scale combat operations.

Official U.S. Navy photo by Journalist 3rd Class Robert N. Sealover

USS FORT MCHENRY AT SEA

The Navy's First Union Jack flies atop USS Fort McHenry's (LSD 43) yardarm, as the U.S. flag is at half mast, following commemoration ceremonies held to honor the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Fort McHenry, with Marine from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, is conducting Blue-Green Workups in the vicinity of Okinawa, Japan. The semiannual workups help blend the capabilities and techniques of the Navy/Marine Corps team into one cohesive team focusing on conducting amphibious operations in support of a wide range of contingencies, from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts, to full-scale combat operations

Official US Navy photo by Journalist Third Class Robert N. Sealover

ABOARD USS ESSEX AT SEA

USS Essex's (LHD 2) aerographer's mates use weather balloons, like the one released here from the ship, to record the humidity, dew point, precipitation, and other weather related data aerographer's mates us to forecast the day's weather and assist smooth flight operations as well as the ship's course.

Official US Navy Photograph by Photographer's Mate Airman Apprentice Stephanie M. Bergman

ABOARD USS ESSEX AT SEA

A USS Essex's (LHD 2) aerographer's mate airman uses a thermometer to measure the sea surface temperature from the signal bridge Sept. 14. Essex, with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) is conducting Blue-Green Workups in the vicinity of Okinawa. The semiannual workups help blend the capabilities and techniques of the Navy/Marine Corps team into one cohesive team focusing on conducting amphibious operations in support of a wide range of contingencies, from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts, to full-scale combat operations.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph by: Photographer's Mate Third Class (AW) Clover B. Christensen