Father and son reunite at sea on USS Bataan

ARABIAN GULF

02.24.2020

Story by Lt. Seth Koenig 

USS Bataan (LHD 5)

ARABIAN GULF – For the second time in a month, the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) hosted a family reunion at sea.
U.S. Navy Capt. (ret.) Philippe Grandjean, now working as a civilian in Kuwait, flew to Bataan on Feb. 23, as part of a group of distinguished visitors, including Brig. Gen. Edrees Alabdullatif, deputy commander of the Kuwait Naval Forces.
His son, Ensign Jake Grandjean, is assigned to Bataan.
“I think I’m pretty fortunate that [my parents] live in this area now and he has a job that allows him to get out to the fleet,” Ensign Grandjean said.
On Jan. 23, Cryptologic Technician (Technical) 3rd Class Corbin Bassingthwaite’s mother visited the ship alongside Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie, Jr., commander of U.S. Central Command. Senior Chief Yeoman Karen Bassingthwaite is a part of McKenzie’s staff and was traveling with the general, while her son is embarked on Bataan with Amphibious Squadron 8.
Ensign Grandjean said he last saw his father before he embarked on Bataan about a month and a half ago, but said he did not expect to see him again until sometime after the deployment is completed in several months.
“It’s really great to see him,” he said. “I’m super lucky to be able to see my father while I’m deployed at sea. It’s a morale booster.”
Bataan is the flagship of the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), which also includes the amphibious transport dock USS New York (LPD 21) and the dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD 51). Embarked aboard the ARG ships is the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
Philippe Grandjean said he is “very proud” of the work his son is doing on Bataan.
“I’ve done a lot of cool things in the Navy, but flying on an [MV-22B] Osprey and seeing my son out here at work on Bataan, it was the highlight of my life,” he said.
The Bataan ARG and 26th MEU are operating in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations, which encompasses about 2.5 million square miles of water area and includes the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean. The expanse includes 20 nations and three critical choke points for global commerce, at the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez Canal and strait of Bab al Mandeb at the southern tip of Yemen.
The ARG and MEU are operating in support of maritime security operations to reassure allies and partners and preserve the freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce in the region.

• Date Taken: 02.24.2020
• Date Posted: 02.28.2020 00:05
• Story ID: 364034
• Location: ARABIAN GULF