By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class R. David Valdez, USS Peleliu Public Affairs
SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5) left San Diego May 22 for a scheduled seven-month western Pacific deployment.
"It was very difficult to leave my wife and child," said Cryptologic Technician (Collection) 1st Class Brian Barr. "Nobody really wants to leave their family, friends, or the comforts of home, but we have a mission to carry out with the Marines. My family understands that I have to go, and they support me when I'm at home and when I'm away."
Peleliu, also known as the "Iron Nickel," is following the other two ships in the Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group (PEL ARG), amphibious transport dock USS Dubuque (LPD 8), which deployed May 18, and amphibious dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52), which deployed May 20.
Marines from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit are embarked aboard Peleliu to conduct flight operations or amphibious landing operations anywhere within the 5th and 7th Fleet areas of responsibility.
Other elements of PEL ARG include Fleet Surgical Team 1; Tactical Air Control Squadron 11; Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 23, Detachment 5; Assault Craft Unit 1, Detachment F; Assault Craft Unit 5, Detachment B and Beachmaster Unit 1, Detachment D.
"I was nervous about deploying, but I was excited at the same time," Yeoman Seaman Apprentice Lauren Rohan said. "It was a really weird feeling, but I liked it. I've never done this before, but even though we'll be very busy, I'm going to get to see the world. That's part of why I joined the Navy."
This deployment follows three work-up periods which allowed the different elements of PEL ARG an opportunity to earn required qualifications and familiarize themselves with each other. It is the first Western Pacific deployment for Peleliu since 2008.