I was a machinist mate on the essex, did the hull swap in japan to the belleau wood.. very interesting . wen dead in the water 12 times while trying to get her underway to bring her back to the states. we put alot of hard work into her to get her sea worthy again. its a damn shame she became target practice when there is a half a continent i can think of that would have made a more suitable target.
I remember the Hull swap in July 2000. I am not old enough to actually be apart of it. But i am the son of a Chief that was. I miss the Iron Gator, and a friend of mine will be on her for 6 months for MEU.
I hope he gets the same experience i did just be being on this glorious vessel.
Not quite right, the Aircraft Carrier was commissioned in 1942 yes but this Amphibious was commissioned on October 17, 1992. To go further back in history there was a whaling ship named the Essex as well which was attacked by a whale on her final voyage. There were few survivors and Herman Melville did get his ideas from their graphic stories for his work on Moby Dick, though the whale which sunk the Essex was not white.
I served aboard the USS Belleau Wood (LHA-3) from '82-'85. Your tribute brought back the sites, sounds and smells of that service. I wish I could ride her again. Gator Navy - ALL THE WAY.
I am a Plankowner of the USS Essex (LHD-2), part of the original crew back in 1992. I was there when she took her maiden voyage. I stayed with her for nearly 4 years until I ended my career in the Navy in October 1996. It was the most exhilarating experience I could have hoped for in my early 20's. Lots of memories. God speed and fair seas, Essex!
if you are crazy enough to join to the navy then first visit funtimenavy (dot) com
Whatever you do in the navy make sure you do not get stuck as a cook or as undesignated seaman.. especially on this ship.. the engineers kind of have it bad too. No liberty when in port due to ship maintenance etc.. but at least if you are still crazy to join the navy.. go in with a job....beware of subs (never did one but lol)
Did SOCEX with the 31st on the Iron Gator in 2000 w/ Ship's Bn, Combat Cargo Co, Well-deck Plt. Awesome 6 months; went to Sasebo, Pohang, Pusan, Taipei, and Hong Kong. Great group of Sailors and a great Skipper.
I was on the 31st MEU in 2007 and the USS ESSEX was the ship that carried me around. I'm really going to miss seeing the world on a Naval ship. 5 months till I EAS out of the Corps.
the essex was a pretty big ship I was on the MEU back in april of 2002. Hit alot of port stops with the essex. But my best was with the USS Pearl Harbor..we were supposed to fly back from Iraq but instead they put us on ship, we stopped in Australia and Hawaii..When we were pulling into sydney there were girls lined up at the pier!! Best wishes to u when u get out the corps!
I was a plankowner on that ship circa 1992 in Pascagoula, MS and took her maiden Westpac OS3 Moore...good times...and the GI BIll made it all worth it. Shout at me on Facebook - Ryan Moore - Nashville, TN
im on the essex since july 06, just extended until feb.6th 2011... then im gunna use that nice new gi bill... it's a rough ship to work on but i love japan.
Did you guys still have photos from the first test flights of the Osprey? Some were taken by the guy that trained me. Last name started with a P and was really long (he was Greek.) Some of those Osprey photos were done by me as well. I was PH3 when they were taken.
my bro was on the essex till he got attached to an army unit in afghanastan and he got an army comendation medal! a navy man with an army commendation wow....
I was a yeoman on the ship around 1995. It was experience that I will never forget. Miss San Diego and plan to get a condo or house there real soon. Since I am out of the Navy I can travel the world again. I respect our troops defending our country!!! PEACE!!
I can't agree with you more...I was stationed on the B-Wood from 1997-2000 before it was replaced with the USS Essex. I can't believe the Belleau Wood is now at the bottom of the Pacific now. (OS2 Allen)
god bless the essex, I was on it twice back in 95 as a yound marine and I still have my blue chow pass, awesome navy crew, god bless the navy and the essex...1/3 marines hawaii...Alamo...
My old ship.
Goatdude33 4 months ago
I was a machinist mate on the essex, did the hull swap in japan to the belleau wood.. very interesting . wen dead in the water 12 times while trying to get her underway to bring her back to the states. we put alot of hard work into her to get her sea worthy again. its a damn shame she became target practice when there is a half a continent i can think of that would have made a more suitable target.
ofnalx1 5 months ago
did 4 years 02-06..met a lot of good peeps and learned so much
drvenhrd46 6 months ago
Best ship in the navy,and i love sasebo
archae23 9 months ago
call me crazy IF you will but i found a sign the other day. it said
Company B(-)
4th Assault Battalion
4th Marine Division
"IRON GATOR' ARE YOU FAMILIAR?????????????????
~ANDREA
NoShyGirlHere 9 months ago
I remember the Hull swap in July 2000. I am not old enough to actually be apart of it. But i am the son of a Chief that was. I miss the Iron Gator, and a friend of mine will be on her for 6 months for MEU.
I hope he gets the same experience i did just be being on this glorious vessel.
junkywithamonkey 10 months ago
@angenilevana That is the Essex from WWII.
The Essex in Sasebo was commissioned on October 17, 1992.
USS Essex is the 5th ship to bear the name dating back to the frigate which was launched in Salem, Mass. on September 30, 1799.
junkywithamonkey 10 months ago
Visted the Essex way back - great team of people for the most part, not an easy life, not at all.
greatguyaaa 11 months ago
My wife's cousin William Jordan is proudly serving on board the Essex right now!
You go hero!!!
strappedandready1 11 months ago
Notice there are not too many pictures of her in port, because she never was.
Gunz4glory 1 year ago
Not quite right, the Aircraft Carrier was commissioned in 1942 yes but this Amphibious was commissioned on October 17, 1992. To go further back in history there was a whaling ship named the Essex as well which was attacked by a whale on her final voyage. There were few survivors and Herman Melville did get his ideas from their graphic stories for his work on Moby Dick, though the whale which sunk the Essex was not white.
Coachsmitty81 1 year ago
I served aboard the USS Belleau Wood (LHA-3) from '82-'85. Your tribute brought back the sites, sounds and smells of that service. I wish I could ride her again. Gator Navy - ALL THE WAY.
tsv667 1 year ago
I was on 2 amphibs both LHA'a 1 and 5. so I know what amphibs do. plus I know what the marines do,.
LONHKIRBYTX007 1 year ago
I am a Plankowner of the USS Essex (LHD-2), part of the original crew back in 1992. I was there when she took her maiden voyage. I stayed with her for nearly 4 years until I ended my career in the Navy in October 1996. It was the most exhilarating experience I could have hoped for in my early 20's. Lots of memories. God speed and fair seas, Essex!
jamis18413 1 year ago
@jamis18413 Me too!!!! RM here! God I loved Pascagoula!~
jymi48180 1 year ago
@jymi48180 Two things - "Land is a navigational hazard." and "The best way to see Pascagula is in our rear view mirror." IC2 Plankowner here
TheFirstJesterOne 4 months ago
if you are crazy enough to join to the navy then first visit funtimenavy (dot) com
Whatever you do in the navy make sure you do not get stuck as a cook or as undesignated seaman.. especially on this ship.. the engineers kind of have it bad too. No liberty when in port due to ship maintenance etc.. but at least if you are still crazy to join the navy.. go in with a job....beware of subs (never did one but lol)
oldmusikvideos 1 year ago
Did SOCEX with the 31st on the Iron Gator in 2000 w/ Ship's Bn, Combat Cargo Co, Well-deck Plt. Awesome 6 months; went to Sasebo, Pohang, Pusan, Taipei, and Hong Kong. Great group of Sailors and a great Skipper.
cplwoodsusmc 1 year ago
i was on the ship alot from summer 2005 to summer 2008. i was with the lcac's. i kinda miss it accually.
alanmorgan1986 1 year ago
i was on the ship alot from summer 2005 to summer 2008. i was with the lcac's. i kinda miss it accually.
alanmorgan1986 1 year ago
i was on the ship alot from summer 2005 to summer 2008. i was with the lcac's. i kinda miss it accually.
alanmorgan1986 1 year ago
I was on the 31st MEU in 2007 and the USS ESSEX was the ship that carried me around. I'm really going to miss seeing the world on a Naval ship. 5 months till I EAS out of the Corps.
2/1 Motor T.
TXDARKRAIN 2 years ago
the essex was a pretty big ship I was on the MEU back in april of 2002. Hit alot of port stops with the essex. But my best was with the USS Pearl Harbor..we were supposed to fly back from Iraq but instead they put us on ship, we stopped in Australia and Hawaii..When we were pulling into sydney there were girls lined up at the pier!! Best wishes to u when u get out the corps!
salinster 2 years ago
oh man, the great ship from bf2, spent lots of time on the deck of the ship
Pinesol23 2 years ago
two westpacs on the Stressex 94/95 and 96/97... I can't believe how much I miss her, compared to the small boys that I'm on now..
dundonrl 2 years ago
My baby girl is MRFA Valerie Collier on this ship now . Gee I am so proud of her and I miss her sooooooo much,
NONIBOTE 2 years ago
im going there
itzuki620 2 years ago
I did westpac 96 in USS Essex.
Semper Fi..USMC
3/1 Kilo Company
sniper4usmc 2 years ago
I was a plankowner on that ship circa 1992 in Pascagoula, MS and took her maiden Westpac OS3 Moore...good times...and the GI BIll made it all worth it. Shout at me on Facebook - Ryan Moore - Nashville, TN
victaulicryan 3 years ago
im on the essex since july 06, just extended until feb.6th 2011... then im gunna use that nice new gi bill... it's a rough ship to work on but i love japan.
NyCnAvYGuY6 3 years ago
Outstanding: RM3 James Arnold (Plankowner) lovin it!!!
jymi48180 3 years ago
4 and out was the way to go but i still miss my friends on her. MM3 Beatty, July 08
LandLockedSailor69 3 years ago
i served onbord till OCT 2000. IT3 creighton
jcreigmac0 3 years ago
@jcreigmac0 LOL, you're one of the ones that got off in Sasebo after picking us up in Oki. Shoulda stuck around for Hong Kong... it was a trip...
cplwoodsusmc 1 year ago
I am a wardroom CS on the ship right now, I loved seeing some of the older faces.
MedusaScorpion 3 years ago
go iron gator my dad is staitioned on that ship going to hong kong
warioking193 3 years ago
wow my cousin is on this ship on is now currently on it in japan
texmarine08 3 years ago
Same here my cousin is a Marine. Is your cousin Marine Corps or Navy?
gonavylax 3 years ago
Man, that sux texmarine08. I was on that ship. It was hell.
xxtwistid01xx 3 years ago
i was da best barber hehe sh2 k!!!! shout outs to all my former shipmates....2001-2004
jhengpotzkie 3 years ago
I was a journalist on the Essex 2003-06 and a ton of these are my photos
iamboardman 3 years ago
@iamboardman
Did you guys still have photos from the first test flights of the Osprey? Some were taken by the guy that trained me. Last name started with a P and was really long (he was Greek.) Some of those Osprey photos were done by me as well. I was PH3 when they were taken.
daemonwulfe 1 year ago
my bro was on the essex till he got attached to an army unit in afghanastan and he got an army comendation medal! a navy man with an army commendation wow....
minivanmonkey 3 years ago
I was a yeoman on the ship around 1995. It was experience that I will never forget. Miss San Diego and plan to get a condo or house there real soon. Since I am out of the Navy I can travel the world again. I respect our troops defending our country!!! PEACE!!
jfs1972music 3 years ago
no amphib will ever out sail the Belleau Wood
XtremeDzs 4 years ago
Damn righ! LHA-3. 2000-2005 QM2
ladypleaser53 4 years ago
I can't agree with you more...I was stationed on the B-Wood from 1997-2000 before it was replaced with the USS Essex. I can't believe the Belleau Wood is now at the bottom of the Pacific now. (OS2 Allen)
courtstone 3 years ago
I was aboard from PreCom until '96 in San Diego. Now it's in Japan. Good times on the Iron Bastard!
ccie5592 4 years ago
no, it was commissioned in 1992.
genesisgfx 4 years ago
Too bad the Harpers-ferry is twice the ship the essex could ever hope to be
lilfisherman0 4 years ago
the ferry isnt a ship its a freakin love boat. I know what goes on there!!
ladypleaser53 4 years ago
wow i miss that ship
terdd11 4 years ago
how old is the essex?
lordwar27 4 years ago
god bless the essex, I was on it twice back in 95 as a yound marine and I still have my blue chow pass, awesome navy crew, god bless the navy and the essex...1/3 marines hawaii...Alamo...
bigmodaco 4 years ago
I was on the Essex and I miss it!
oomineroo 4 years ago
did 3 years on the black pearl, haha, I had great times when we were inport!
Turnerp561 4 years ago
I've had spme good times in the Essex' engine room, LOL. My husband did the turnover with the Belleau Wood a few years back.
tessabianca 4 years ago
very nice. makes me proud to have served there too.
sakuraart 4 years ago
Nicely done..
iverson1476 4 years ago
Nice video. I was there in Sasebo during the Belleau Wood/Essex crew swap in '00.
courtstone 4 years ago
Wow so was I. I was on the Belleau Wood as the Essex crew from San Dog brought her over. That was a very interesting 2 weeks.
IT-3
Deceptikon1337 4 years ago