Keywords: US Navy 080807-N-9418A-008 Family and friends of the crew of the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD-2) prepare to board from a landing craft unit for the 2008 Tiger Cruise.jpg en SASEBO Japan Aug 7 2008 Family and friends of the crew of the amphibious assault ship USS Essex LHD-2 prepare to board from a landing craft unit for the 2008 Tiger Cruise Essex is the lead ship of the only forward-deployed U S Expeditionary Strike Group and serves as the flagship for CTF 76 the Navy's only forward-deployed amphibious force commander U S Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Matthew A Ebarb/Released 2008-08-07 080807-N-9418A-008 Navy http //www navy mil/view_image asp id 62367 U S Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Matthew A Ebarb PD-USGov-Military-Navy Sasebo Nagasaki Aboard USS Essex LHD-2 LCU 1627 ship 1967 |