U.S. Department of Defense

USS Essex, Gulf of Thailand

The USS Essex, anchored in the Gulf of Thailand, May 8, 2008, stands ready to assist the people of Burma, where a cyclone and tidal wave struck the nation, killing thousands and leaving hundreds of thousands homeless. The Navy is dispatching helicopters from the ship to a staging area in Thailand, where they will be able to reach Burma with relief supplies within hours. Essex is equipped with 23 helicopters and five amphibious landing craft, and carries 1,800 Marines.

U.S. Navy Seaman Chris Smith directs a Humvee as it departs a landing craft, May 8, 2008. The landing craft transported elements of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit to shore from the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex.

U.S. Marines assigned to 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and sailors assigned to Assault Craft Unit 1 and Beachmaster Unit prepare to unload a landing craft after transporting vehicles and equipment from the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex, May 8, 2008.

A U.S. Marine assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit peers from the driver's seat of a landing assault vehicle as the crew prepares to disembark from a landing craft, May 8, 2008.

U.S. Navy sailors aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Essex prepare to chain a landing craft to the ship during a stern-gate marriage, May 8, 2008. Landing crafts transported elements of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit from Essex to the shore.

Chock and chain handlers from the amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry remove the restraining chains from a CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter from the "Dragons" of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265 (HMM-265), May 10, 2008. The USS Harpers Ferry is part of the USS Essex Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG). The Essex Group is steaming to support a potential humanitarian assistance tasking in the wake of Cyclone Nargis.

Marines attached to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit fill water bladders with fresh water to help aid victims of Cyclone Nargis aboard the USS Essex May 11, 2008. The USS Essex Expeditionary Group is steaming to support a potential humanitarian assistance tasking in the wake of Cyclone Nargis.

Marines aboard the USS Essex fill 5-gallon water bags in the ship's upper vehicle storage space for possible humanitarian assistance, May 11, 2008. The USS Essex Expeditionary Group is steaming to support a potential humanitarian assistance tasking in the wake of Cyclone Nargis.

Hospital Corpsmen inventory field medical supplies aboard the USS Essex, South china Sea, May 11, 2008. The USS Essex Expeditionary Strike Group is steaming to the coast of Burma for a possible humanitarian assistance mission in the wake of Cyclone Nargis.

United States Marine Corps Sgt. Christian M. Mendieta and Cpl. Stephen B. Clark, stack sleeping bags onto pallets for possible use in relief efforts in the wake of Cyclone Nargis, Utapoa, Thailand, May 11, 2008.

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Chester S. Mahiya and Sgt. Christian M. Mendieta unload emergency supplies to be loaded onto pallets for possible use in relief efforts in the wake of Cyclone Nargis, Utapoa, Thailand, May 11, 2008.

Cargo handlers onboard the USS Essex conduct cargo hook training with a CH-46E Sea Knight attached to the Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron (HMM) 265, May 12, 2008. The Essex Group is steaming to support a potential humanitarian assistance tasking in the wake of Cyclone Nargis.

The USS Essex, anchored in the Gulf of Thailand, May 8, 2008, stands ready to assist the people of Burma, where a cyclone and tidal wave struck the nation, killing thousands and leaving hundreds of thousands homeless. The Navy is dispatching helicopters from the ship to a staging area in Thailand, where they will be able to reach Burma with relief supplies within hours. Essex is equipped with 23 helicopters and five amphibious landing craft, and carries 1,800 Marines.
U.S. Navy photo by Seaman Kari R. Bergman