Eisenhower CSG departs for Middle East

[unhappycamper]

Ida Malone waves to her husband, Chief Petty Officer Averill Malone, as the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower leaves Feb. 21 for deployment from Norfolk Naval Station in Norfolk, Va. According to the Navy, the strike group is heading to the Middle East for a five-month deployment to support maritime security operations.


Eisenhower CSG departs for Middle East
The Associated Press
Posted : Saturday Feb 21, 2009 15:46:54 EST

NORFOLK, Va. — The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group is heading from Norfolk to the Middle East to support maritime security operations.

The Navy says the group includes about 6,000 sailors. The strike group is scheduled for a five-month deployment.

Officials said that in addition its counter-piracy operations the ships will provide options such as disaster relief, humanitarian assistance and crisis response.

The guided missile destroyer USS Bainbridge left Norfolk on Friday. The Eisenhower and most of the strike group’s other Norfolk-based ships left Saturday. The underway replenishment oiler Big Horn and the dry cargo/ammunition ship Sacagawea also departed Saturday.

Deployment of the guided missile destroyer USS Stout will be later.


Rest of article at: http://navytimes.com/news/2009/02/ap_eisenhower_csg_022109/%2e