Odyssey Dawn

End of an era

By Bill McMichael on December 6, 2011 6th Fleet, Amphibious operations, Amphibious Ready Group, Combat support, Commanding officers, Flight deck certification, Homecoming, leadership, Marine Corps, Marine Expeditionary Unit, Maritime operations, Mine warfare, Navy, Norfolk Naval Station, Odyssey Dawn, Photos, Ponce, Ships, The Middle East

On May 7, 1970, the Beatles released their last single: “The Long and Winding Road.” Last week, the amphibious transport dock Ponce, launched 13 days after the song and commissioned in July 1971, completed its own long journey, coming home for the last time after four decades of service. Those years were filled with significant events. Ponce helped evacuate nearly 300 mostly U.S. and British Westerners from Lebanon during the 1976 civil war, and supported 6th Fleet air strikes on pro-Syrian militia positions in defense of U.S. Marines ashore. It supported military disaster relief in Florida following 1992’s devastating Hurricane…

It really is a coalition, folks!

By Bill McMichael on March 21, 2011 Admirals, Carriers, French navy, Helicopters, leadership, Odyssey Dawn, Photos

The Obama administration is working hard to play down the U.S. role in the airstrikes and no-fly zone operations on and over Libya, with senior officials stressing that the U.S. involvement is “limited” and that the operation is a broad-based coalition effort with international participation and Arab League backing — not a U.S.-led foray into yet another predominantly Muslim nation, which could further damage its already poor image in that part of the world. The Navy released at least seven images Monday, all apparently aimed at reinforcing that sense: All but one includes a coalition officer or aircraft. For example:…

The Navy strikes

By Bill McMichael on March 21, 2011 Aviation, Libya, Naval aviation, Navy, Odyssey Dawn, Ships, Submarines, Tomahawk, Video

Navy ships and subs launched a barrage of Tomahawk cruise missiles at Libyan air defenses Saturday, including this one, filmed by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jonathan Sunderman, leaping skyward out of the Norfolk-based destroyer Barry. The strikes, and subsequent bomb attacks by U.S., French and British aircraft, followed the March 17 passage of a U.N. resolution authorizing “all necessary measures” to protect civilians in Libya, particularly rebel fighters, being attacked by Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi’s forces. The coalition air strikes continued Sunday, with the Associated Press reporting that a line of Libyan tanks south of Benghazi were destroyed. Rebel…

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