Photos from operation Iraqi Freedom

Navy Supply Corps Newsletter, July-August, 2003

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Caption: Above: Mail Call! It was a red letter day for 5,500 Sailors and aviators aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln when the massive aircraft carrier pulled into Pearl Harbor on April 26. Awaiting them on the pier were 62,000 pounds of mail, the equivalent of eight tractor-trailer loads of letters, packages, magazines ... and even a healthy assortment of bills. The mail had been accumulating at the Pearl Harbor Mail Center as the Lincoln steamed across the Pacific following its lengthy deployment in the Persian Gulf.

In the days leading up to the Lincoln's arrival, Sailors at the Pearl Harbor Mail Center had worked tirelessly ... but without complaint, knowing that their labors would be greatly appreciated by their shipmates aboard the carrier.

"I've been on three ships and I know what it feels like to get mail," said PC1 (SW) Tony Zarate, who works at the mail center.

Echoing Zarate's sentiments was fellow postal worker PC3 Marvin Harris. "Mail is very important," said Harris. "I've seen itfirsthand aboard ship. People will miss lunch, miss sleep, miss anything for a care package from home."

The Sailors were astounded by the volume of mail, all of which they were having to screen and x-ray. The 62,000 pounds of mail for the 5,500 works out to a whopping 11 pounds (11.2 to be precise) of mail per person!

"I've been in the military six years, and I've never seen this much mail," said Harris.

The Pearl Harbor Mail Center is run by Naval Supply Systems Command's Fleet and Industrial Supply Center Pearl Harbor. Albert Foster, a FISC employee, heads the mail center. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Dennis Cantrell.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Caption: Above: CAPT Bob Snyder, Commanding Officer, Logistics Support Unit (LOGSU), Navy Special Warfare Group 1, center; LT Mick Wilson, Naval Special Warfare Unit 3, Supply Officer, left; and LT Jeff Pfeill, a Civil Engineer Corps officer attached to Combat Service Support Detachment LOGSU, at Baghdad International Airport on April 25. They along with several other Supply Corps officers were there to provide logistics and facilities support for Naval Special Warfare as Phase IV of Operation Iraqi Freedom begins. OIF Phase IV is the stabilization of the country.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Caption: Left: U.S. Marine Corps Major Chris Hughes shares some time with an Iraqi girl during an effort to distribute food and water to Iraqi citizens in need. The U.S. military is working with international relief organizations to help provide food and medicine for the Iraqi people in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 1st Class Arlo K. Abrahamson.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Caption: Left: A CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter delivers supplies from the fast combat support ship USS Bridge (AOE 10) to the aircraft carrier USS Constellation (CV 64) during an underway replenishment (UNREP) in the gulf while supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman David A. O'Haver.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Caption: Right: Airman Jason Langa and Airman Radames Martinez perform inventories on surface depot level repairable parts in the Repairable Asset Management Shop aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). Truman and Carrier Air Wing 3 (CVW 3) are currently on deployment conducting missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Keeping parts and supplies available are keys to success in the war. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Danny Ewing Jr.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Caption: Right: Aviation Ordnancemen in the "bomb farm" aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) stand ready to load this assortment of ordnance on to Carrier Air Wing 3 (CVW 3) aircraft. Aircraft from Truman and other carriers in the region are conducting bombing and close air support missions in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Naval Supply Systems Command's Naval Ammunition Logistics Center has worked around the clock to keep Navy units supplied with conventional weapons throughout OIF. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Andrea Decanini.