Raging Rita

From the Eye on the Fleet photo gallery.
GOES-12 Satellite infrared image provided by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Monterey, Calif.

GOES-12 Satellite infrared image (Source: US Navy)

Infrared image shows the population centers with a very well defined Hurricane Rita. Navy assets are being redeployed to respond to this one two punch on the gulf coast. A number of Navy ships already in the gulf coast area put to sea to avoid the storm and be in position for assistance.

These ships include:
USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7)
USS Shreveport (LPD 12)
USS Tortuga (LSD 46)
USNS Patuxent (T-AO 201)
USNS Comfort (T-AH 20)

Additionally the Navy Region Northeast continues to provide assistance from Naval Submarine Base New London, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and other commands for the Hurricane Katrina relief effort.

Help all those effected by supporting the American Red Cross.

Updated 9/23/05 - 13:00 Of related local RI interest I'd like to share. This is from a email forwarded to me by a recently retired RI National Guard member.

This was written by the XO of the USS Iwo Jima just before the MPs left New Orleans.

Finally, a word about our guests onboard, the 119th Military Police Company, Rhode Island National Guard.

These folks are headed home after a very long two weeks. To their credit, they were the first to enter the Convention Center and restore order with only 140 troops, though the mission called for more than 500. They saved 15 lives and evacuated hundreds.

The Company averaged more than 20 missions per day that lasted from 0600 until well past midnight on most days. I had an opportunity to accompany them on two missions and found them to be extremely professional - since they were among the first to arrive after Katrina, they became the resident experts for mission planning and execution for many other Guard and Army units. Their company even found time to care for 4 stray canines to relieve the stress.

Footnote: most of the MP Company returned from a tour in Iraq n April. Huge Heroes from a Small State.

Burton C. Quist
Colonel, US Marine Corps

Another RI National Guard MP unit from Warwick RI was one of the first units to serve at Gitmo after the start of the GWOT.

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