It's Official: The USS Stennis Will Come Home Friday

[Robbien]

Source: Scripps Newspaper Group

Sailors and Marines aboard the USS John C. Stennis garnered several achievements during a seven-and-a-half month deployment that landed them in the middle of two wars and two major training exercises.

The Stennis carrier strike group supported Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, Expeditionary Strike Force training and exercise Valiant Shield 2007.

. . .

The battle group spent five months deployed to the Middle East. While there, Stennis and Carrier Air Wing 9 flew more than 7,900 sorties providing more than 22,000 flight hours and dropping nearly 90,000 pounds of ordnance in support of troops operating on the ground in Afghanistan and Iraq.

. . .

March 27-28

The Stennis participates in the Navy's largest demonstration of force in the Persian Gulf since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. War planes from the Stennis and the USS Eisenhower fly simulated attack maneuvers off the coast of Iran. U.S. commanders insist the exercises are not a direct response to Iran's seizure five days earlier of 15 British sailors and Marines, but they also make clear that the flexing of the Navy's military might is intended as a warning to Iran.

. . .

May 11

Vice President Dick Cheney visits the Stennis as it steams about 150 miles from the Iranian coast. He warns Iran that the United States and its allies will keep it from restricting sea traffic and from developing nuclear weapons. Cheney is touring the Middle East asking Arab allies to do more to help Iraq and to curb Iran's growing power in the region. Between 3,500 and 4,000 sailors and Marines stand in 100-degree heat to hear Cheney speak.

more . . .

Read more: http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2007/aug/26/for-the-uss-stennis-thousands-of-miles-and/

---

So much in this report, much related to intimidating Iran.

One other thing which stands out, 90,000 pounds of bombs dropped on Iraq and Afghanistan in a five month period from this group alone.