Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit launch a rubber combat raiding craft from the well deck of the USS Juneau as part of amphibious landing operations in waters surrounding Luzon, Philippines, during Amphibious Landing Exercise ‘06. (Adam R. Cole / Courtesy of U.S. Navy)
Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit launch a rubber combat raiding craft from the well deck of the USS Juneau as part of amphibious landing operations in waters surrounding Luzon, Philippines, during Amphibious Landing Exercise ‘06. (Adam R. Cole / Courtesy of U.S. Navy)
Navy Lt. Val Smalley, left, a physician assigned to Marine Service Support Group 31, and Petty Officer 1st Class Joel Clemente, a corpsman attached to the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force Special Operations Training Group, examine the wrist of an elderly woman who traveled from a nearby village seeking medical care. U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Armed Forces of the Philippines medical personnel provided health care to about 900 residents of Gawad Kalinga Village, Barangay Santa Juliana, Capas and Tarlac. (Courtesy of U.S. Navy)
USS Essex sailors paint the two-story Gordon Heights Elementary School in Olongapo City, Philippines, as part of the ship’s community relations project. (Marvin E. Thompson / Courtesy of U.S. Navy)
Jam-Balaya, a band comprised of USS Juneau crewmembers, performs a concert on the ship’s flight deck during a "steel beach" barbecue Sunday. The Sasebo-based ship arrived in the Philippines Saturday for PHIBLEX '06. (Adam R. Cole / Courtesy of U.S. Navy)
Sailors from the Essex Amphibious Ready Group and Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit completed an amphibious landing Sunday in Luzon, Philippines, during Amphibious Landing Exercise ‘06.
About 5,000 U.S. and Philippines servicemembers are taking part in PHIBLEX ’06, stated a Navy news report Wednesday.
The three-ship ARG operates from Sasebo and includes the USS Essex, USS Juneau and USS Fort McHenry. The 31st MEU is based on Okinawa.
The annual bilateral exercises Talon Vision, which ended Monday, and PHIBLEX ’06, ending Tuesday, are held to enhance U.S. and Philippines armed forces’ working relationship and readiness.
During the 24-hour ship-to- shore amphibious transport, MEU Marines moved 180 tons of gear ashore via 18 rubber combat raiding crafts launched from the Juneau’s well deck, according to the report.
Landing Craft Utilities 1627 and 1631 from Assault Craft Unit 1, Sasebo Detachment, made nine runs of equipment including supplies, seven-ton trucks, Humvees and M-198 Howitzers.
“This displays not only the partnership, but the brotherhood and sisterhood that exists between the Navy and Marine Corps,” Capt. Ronald Horton, Juneau’s commander, stated in the report. “We share a bond as warriors, a bond that cuts deep.”
Petty Officer 2nd Class Daniel A. Wauters, boatswain’s mate in charge of the landing operation, stated that sailors simply did their mission “so the Marines can do theirs. It was tiring … but we just kept going because we knew we had to get the job done.”
Meanwhile, servicemembers from both nations provided medical care Sunday to about 900 Luzon residents.
Navy Lt. j.g. Sherri Garrett, a chaplain assigned to Marine Service Support Group 31, stated in the report that the project benefited everyone involved, especially the children receiving medical exams.
“This is such outstanding work,” she stated. “The people are very receptive and the children are wonderful. It’s such a blessing to be able to serve so many people.”
The medical team provided basic health checkups and medicine to children, expectant mothers, the elderly and those with illnesses.
And on Sunday in Olongapo City, Philippines, about 40 Essex sailors painted the Gordon Heights Elementary School.
“I think we did a good job. … You can tell the people are happy to have us and to see their school get brightened up with a much-needed paint job,” said Ensign Dominic Franklyn, Essex’s combat information center officer.
Volunteers included Essex sailors and embarked personnel from Amphibious Squadron 11 and Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25.
