Saturday, August 30, 2008

USS San Antonio Begins Her Maiden Deployment

NORFOLK -- Sailors and Marines onboard the USS San Antonio (LPD 17) man the rails as it deploys as part of the Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group. The ship is underway in support of
Maritime Security Operations and Theater Security Cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility.

IWO ESG is comprised of the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima, the amphibious transport dock ship USS San Antonio, the guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf, and the guided-missile destroyer USS Ramage.
Copied from a local news source.

Here we are saying goodbye.  It was very early.  The girls said their goodbyes the night before.

Lee was loaded down with all of his stuff.  You can't see it in the picture but he was also carrying his pillow.

Going aboard

Manning the rails on the way out of the harbor.


Here are a couple of links in case you would like to keep up with the ship while they are deployed.
First, this is the ship's website but I'm not sure how often it gets updated.  Maybe now that they are underway it will get some attention.  
This next site is updated often.  It is dedicated to sharing news for the whole Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group of which the San An is a part.  My favorite section of this page is the photo gallery located on the right hand column.  These are regularly updated pictures of daily activities aboard the ships that make up the strike group.  

6 comments:

TMc1951 said...

Ah, the memories. Stay strong. You do get through these days marking one day at a time off the calendar. And know that the next time you stand on that pier you'll get chill bumps you could never imagine when you see that ship come back into port. Our thoughts and prayers are with all five of you. Hope to see you sometime soon. Love, Papaw and Theresa

Carolina Girl said...

Thanks for the update Becky! I can only try to imagine how you are feeling. I'll be praying for you all! Loves!

TMc1951 said...

We'll be praying for Lee too! Hope that was a given even if I didn't mention it above.

Unknown said...

Hey Becky and girls, Thanks for the update and pictures of Lee before he left. I know that you and the girls are sad. Granddaddy and I are so proud of Lee but we are also proud of you and how you take care of things while he is gone. You and the girls are very much in our prayers. We love you all so much.

G&G Brown

Stephanie said...

Thanks for sharing this. People like me don't know what it's like to send a loved one off to sea or the military.
Stay strong

jaci said...

Thank you for the photos and the links, Rebecca! And {{{HUGS}}} to you and yours along with my prayers.

Stats