Update~
SAN DIEGO – More than 5,000 sailors and Marines with the Belleau Wood Expeditionary Strike Group left San Diego today for a six-month deployment in
the Western Pacific and the Persian Gulf.
The strike group, commanded by Brig. Gen. Joseph V. Medina, will be deployed to the Western Pacific and Central Command Area of Responsibility, which
includes the Persian Gulf region, according to U.S. Navy public affairs.
It is the first time an expeditionary strike group will be commanded by a Marine general, according to the Navy.
The amphibious assault ship Belleau Wood, the amphibious transport dock Denver and amphibious dock landing ship Comstock departed from the 32nd Street
Naval Station shortly after 8:30 this morning.
The remainder of the strike group the cruiser Mobile Bay, fast-attack submarine Charlotte and the guided missile destroyers Preble and Hoper – will
depart next month.
The strike group will carry Marines from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Marine Helicopter Squadron 166 and Marine Service Support Group 11. The
unit may be assigned to a different region from the 1st Marine Division, which is stationed in the al Anbar province of western and central Iraq.
The strike group's deployment was pushed forward a month because Pentagon officials needed additional troops to fill in for Army soldiers who are
headed home. Increased fighting throughout Iraq has forced the military to keep about 138,000 troops in the country, about 20,000 more personnel than
officials planned for this year.
The deployment is part of the Navy's new Fleet Response Plan, which was developed to train naval forces for quick response to crises and in support
of national interests.
www.signonsandiego.com...
[Edited on 30-5-2004 by signa]