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By Chief Journalist (SW/AW) Dean Lohmeyer, Nassau Public Affairs
ABOARD USS NASSAU (LHA 4) At Sea - USS Nassau (LHA 4), also known as the U.S. Navy's Top Gator, and embarked units provided assistance to a distressed vessel off the coast of Kenya Jan. 31 while conducting maritime security operations (MSO) in the area.
MSO help preserve the free and secure use of the world's oceans by legitimate mariners and prevent terrorists from attempting to use the maritime environment as a venue for attack or as a medium to transport personnel, weapons or other material that could support their efforts. In addition, coalition assets like Nassau also assist mariners in distress as part of MSO.
Motor vessel Al Manara reported a need for provisions, engineering assistance and medical attention. The highly trained crew aboard USS Nassau responded as part of their MSO to provide supplies, medicine and assistance to the vessel's crew.
"We received a report from Coalition Task Force (CTF) 150 stating that the motor vessel Al Manara had suffered an engineering casualty approximately 680 miles off the coast of Kenya and was in need of provisions until assistance could be provided by another source," said Cmdr. Edward Murdock, Nassau's operations officer.
"Upon arrival, we assessed the situation and with the embarked units - helicopters, LCUs (Landing Craft Utilities), the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) unit and the ship's force - we worked together as a team to provide food and water as well as medical care for four of their crew."
Nassau Sailors worked with Sailors from Naval Beach Group, Assault Craft Unit Two (ACU-2) Detachment Delta, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) Two Detachment 22, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 28 (HSC-28) and Beach Master Unit Two to complete the mission by providing help to the 21 crew members of Al Manara.
The sea state at the time proved challenging as did the fact that those involved had never worked alongside a cargo vessel like Al Manara. The Sailors" training prior to deployment helped keep them determined to accomplish the mission.
"This operation went off perfectly because we had our best trained Sailors involved, and everyone knew exactly what they had to do and did it perfectly," said Lt. Cmdr. David Tarwater, of Beach Master Unit Two. "We were at the limit when it came to operating our small craft in these waters, and it wouldn't have been a success if those involved hadn't done their jobs just like they were trained to do."
After delivering thousands of gallons of water and food, including rice, chicken, fruit and vegetables to the Al Manara, Nassau's responders took four Al Manara crew members back to Nassau to receive medical treatment from the ship's medical department and embarked fleet surgical team. On board, 12 medical personnel attended to their unexpected patients, drawing blood and doing lab work. Before Al Manara's crew members departed Nassau, they received a good report from the afloat medical team.
"These guys had medical issues that needed to be addressed right away," said Lt. Nathan Perrizo, Nassau's general medical officer. "Some of them were about to run out of their critical [medicines], so we gave them enough to get them to their next port."
Sailors involved in responding to the distress call say the assistance they provided the crew of Al Manara gave them sense of satisfaction.
"Anytime you can help out a fellow Sailor on your ship or on another ship always makes you feel like a better person," said Tarwater. "When we left, they were all in better spirits, smiling, laughing and thanking us for what we gave them."
USS Nassau deployed from in early November as the flagship of Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 8 and is currently conducting MSO in the 5th Fleet area of operations.
| Date Taken: | 02.01.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 02.01.2006 10:35 |
| Story ID: | 5259 |
| Location: | ABOARD USS NASSAU, AT SEA |
| Web Views: | 140 |
| Downloads: | 80 |
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