US Participation In Relief Effort Winding Down Now
USS Essex (LHD 2) sailors delivered nearly 170,000 pounds of
relief supplies in Indonesia in support of Operation Unified
Assistance in just three days last week.
Using MH-53E Sea Dragon and MH-60S Knighthawk helicopters,
Sailors carried 169,485 pounds of food, water and tons of other
supplies to various areas in the region between Wednesday and
Friday.
Air Force C-130s landed at an air field on Sabang, Indonesia, an
island north of Sumatra, fully loaded with Operation Unified
Assistance relief supplies. Essex Sailors volunteered to move the
tons of supplies from the large airplanes to the heavy-lifting
helos - MH-53E Sea Dragons of Helicopter Mine Countermeasures
Squadron (HM) 15 Blackhawks and MH-60S Knighthawks from Helicopter
Combat Support Squadron (HC) 5 Knightriders.
Essex previously spent four months in the Persian Gulf, where
temperatures ranged from the 60s during the day to the upper 40s at
night. The Sailors going to Sabang had to adapt to the Indonesia
heat and humidity. Essex medical staff volunteered to go ashore to
help ensure everyone stayed hydrated, in addition to helping move
the supplies.
"I felt good to be there." Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Shabonne
K. Tripp said. "It was hard work hauling all the food, but it was a
nice change of pace working with everyone. It was a very hot day,
but nice. A really nice opportunity and I'm glad I was able to
participate."
Working party participant Master-At-Arms 3rd Class Karen Hall
said she was impressed with the cohesiveness all the groups showed
in getting the work accomplished.
"I was grateful to be there and work with the various military
forces and aid workers," said Hall. "We all worked together
building a huge tent and distributed pallets of food and water to
the helos, which would in turn take them to another area to be
distributed."
Lt. Cmdr. John M. Daziens echoed the fact that outstanding
teamwork was at the core of the success in moving so many pounds of
relief items.
"The teamwork was incredible. [U.S.] Navy, Marine, Air Force and
Indonesians...everyone was jumping in to lend a hand. The aircrews
were amazing, flying, loading and unloading nonstop, packing their
aircraft so full they could barely fly," Daziens said. "For the
FDNF (Forward Deployed Naval Forces) ships, Indonesia is in our
backyard. It felt good being back in our home waters, helping out
our neighbors."
"Everyone was moving supplies - officers and enlisted," said
Chief Cryptologic Technician Patrick M. Phillips. "It was one of
the most physically demanding days I’ve had in my Navy
career, but also one of the most rewarding because I knew we were
there to help."
Essex is the Navy’s only forward deployed amphibious
assault ship out of Sasebo, Japan, and is the flagship for
Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 11 Amphibious Ready Group.
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