9/11 - Roll On

6 Sep 2002 | 11th MEU Public Affairs Office 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit

More than 500 Marines and Sailors with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) and USS Belleau Wood (LHA 3) commemorated the one-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks Sept. 6 by spelling out the now famous quote from Todd Beamer, "Let's roll," on the flight deck of the ship. Beamer was one of the heroic passengers on United Flight 93, which crashed in a western Pennsylvania field after he and several other passengers attempted to regain control of the plane from terrorist hijackers. "Let's roll," an expression often used by Beamer, was the last statement heard from him by the GTE Airfone operator before the crash. Currently deployed in the U.S. Central Command area of operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, the 11th MEU (SOC) and USS Belleau Wood Amphibious Ready Group stand ready as the nation's premier forward-deployed, rapid-response force. Comprised of approximately 4,200 personnel, the MEU/ARG team is prepared to respond to any contingency or crisis that may involve the interests of the United States. Commanded by Col. Anthony M. Haslam, the 11th MEU (SOC) is the third Camp Pendleton-based MEU to deploy since the war on terrorism began after Sept. 11.

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