Bonhomme Richard arrives in Okinawa, disembarks 31st Marines

Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Jesse Marquez Magallanes | 170406-N-XT039-110 OKINAWA, Japan (April 6, 2017) Logistics Specialist Seaman Angel Acevedo, front, from San Juan, Puerto Rico, assigned to the amphibious transport dock USS Green Bay (LPD 20), and Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class Tajh Parkins, from Louisville, Ky., assigned to Commander, Fleet Activities Okinawa (CFAO) port operations, perform line handling duties as the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) arrives pierside at White Beach Naval Facility to disembark Marines of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. Bonhomme Richard, flagship of the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group, is on a patrol, operating in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region to enhance warfighting readiness and posture forward as a ready-response force for any type of contingency. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Jesse Marquez Magallanes/Released)  

WHITE BEACH NAVAL FACILITY, OKINAWA, JAPAN

04.06.2017

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Kyle Carlstrom  

Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group 7     

The amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) arrived in White Beach, Okinawa, to disembark 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) equipment, vehicles and personnel, April 6.

Bonhomme Richard departed Sasebo, Japan, for a regularly-scheduled patrol in the 7th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR), Feb. 27. During the patrol, Bonhomme Richard (BHR) and the 31st MEU completed amphibious integrated training (AIT) and a certification exercise (CERTEX).

“I continue to be amazed by the professionalism and determination of our blue-green team,” said Capt. Jeffrey Ward, Bonhomme Richard’s commanding officer. “They flawlessly executed the mission, exceeding all expectations, and I couldn’t be more proud of this crew.”

CERTEX was conducted to evaluate the integration of all elements of the BHR Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) and 31st MEU to test their ability to plan for and execute mission essential tasks.

“This patrol was extremely successful,” said Col. Tye Wallace, commanding officer of the 31st MEU. “We had a great time integrating with our naval partners. We were able to hone our skills as an afloat, amphibious crisis response force, and it allowed us to further strengthen the bonds of camaraderie between Bonhomme Richard and the MEU.”

Bonhomme Richard is the flagship of the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG). The Bonhomme Richard ESG consists of USS Bonhomme Richard, USS Green Bay (LPD 20) and USS Ashland (LSD 48).

For more information about Bonhomme Richard visit our Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/ussbhr or find us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/LHD6BHR

• Date Taken: 04.06.2017
• Date Posted: 04.06.2017 19:37
• Story ID: 229471
• Location: WHITE BEACH NAVAL FACILITY, OKINAWA, JP