BAY OF BENGAL, Bangladesh -- Marines and sailors from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) Tarawa Expeditionary Strike Goup 3 successfully completed a a Humanitarian Assistance Operation known as Sea Angel II here Dec. 4-6.
The humanitarian aid was requested by the government of Bangladesh and is part of ongoing relief efforts currently underway after Tropical Cyclone Sidr struck their southern coast Nov. 15. The cyclone killed more than 3,000 people and left several hundred thousand homeless. The Department of Defense effort is part of a larger United States response coordinated by the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development.
The Navy/Marine Corps team used CH-46E Sea Knight and CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 166 (Reinforced), Marine Air Station Miramar, San Diego, to transport more than 54, 165 lbs. of food and supplies and 1875 gallons of water to the people most affected by the cyclone.
In two of those missions, medical teams from the amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa (LHA 1) boarded two Super Stallions and flew to the fishing village of Kaalapara and to Dublar-char where they delivered 214 boxes of food and treated 300 patients. The assistance was coordinated between U.S. military medical teams and doctors from the Bangladeshi government’s Army Medical Corps.
In Kaalampara, a medical team treated more than 400 patients who complained about aches and pains, skin problems and bronchitis. They also treated many children upper respiratory infections, ear infections and diarrhea.
Pilots from HMM-166 (REIN), the aviation combat element of the 11th MEU (SOC), flew 29 missions in the three-day operation.
Other elements of the 11th MEU (SOC) consists of the command element, an aviation combat element embarked on USS Tarawa, ground combat element, Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, and a logistic combat element, Combat Logistics Battalion 11. Some elements of the MEU are embarked aboard USS Germantown and USS Cleveland. The Marines and sailors from the 11th MEU (SOC)/ Tarawa ESG-3 have resumed their scheduled deployment through the Western Pacific Ocean and Arabian Gulf region.
For more information about the 11th MEU (SOC) visit their website athttp://www.usmc.mil.
For high resolution images please email Staff Sgt. Sergio Jimenez atjimenezs@11meu.usmc.mil.