Oak Hill Sailors and Marines, in addition to the embarked Twenty fourth Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) Particular Operations Succesful (SOC) and Sailors assigned to Seaside Masters Unit (BMU) 2 visited with French Navy counterparts assigned to amphibious assault ship FS Mistral (L9013) whereas in Brest. Collectively, U.S. and French forces deliberate and took part in quite a lot of occasions celebrating the eightieth anniversary of the D-Day landings and Operation Overlord, the decisive World Struggle II marketing campaign that introduced Allied troops ashore in close by Normandy.
Cmdr. Jason Nowell, Oak Hill’s commanding officer, visited the Mistral to satisfy Capt. Olivier Roussille, Mistral’s commanding officer, for an idea of operations (CONOPS) transient concerning the D-Day celebration.
“I labored alongside Roussille and our staffs to coordinate the entire occasions our ships are executing,” mentioned Nowell. “All of us have the identical objectives, safely and neatly executing our evolutions to commemorate and honor the eightieth anniversary of the Allied landings in Normandy. It’s essential we work collectively for this occasion. Our demonstrations guarantee folks don’t simply examine these courageous historic occasions in books—they see and expertise it. Equally essential, we proceed to strengthen our partnership with France.”
The occasions Sailors and Marines will take part in throughout the D-Day celebration at Normandy embody ceremony, touchdown craft, utility (LCU) demonstrations, and a commemorative hike.
Excursions for French and U.S. Sailors and Marines have been performed aboard each Oak Hill and Mistral. Along with these excursions, the Mistral crew hosted a high-intensity interval coaching competitors aboard the French ship, permitting not just for a pleasant check of power, but in addition creating bonds and strengthening relations between nations.
“I don’t suppose I’ll have an opportunity like this once more,” mentioned Data Specialist 2nd Class Bretburton Clark, certainly one of Oak Hill’s rivals. “The course was enjoyable, but it surely destroyed us. Teaming up with [the French Navy,] I acquired to speak to them and make buddies with them. I realized a lot about their tradition.”
France is a long-standing NATO ally of america, relationship again to NATO’s inception in 1949. The celebration offered an opportunity to additional strengthen the U.S.’s relationship with France, whereas permitting the Sailors and Marines to memorialize World Struggle II and a cultural change.
D-Day was an amphibious and airborne assault on the seashores of Normandy throughout World Struggle II performed by United States, United Kingdom and different Allied forces to liberate France from Nazi-Germany management on June 6, 1944.
Oak Hill deployed from Norfolk, Virginia, Could 22, and has performed coaching, workout routines, and operations to help maritime stability and safety in protection of U.S., Allied, and accomplice pursuits.
Oak Hill is conducting operations in U.S. Naval Forces Europe space of operations as a part of the Wasp Amphibious Prepared Group (WSP ARG)-Twenty fourth Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) Particular Operations Succesful (SOC).
The WSP ARG-Twenty fourth MEU (SOC) is comprised of its flagship namesake, the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1), San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS New York (LPD 21), Oak Hill, and the embarked Twenty fourth MEU (SOC).
The Twenty fourth MEU (SOC) is a Marine Air-Floor Activity Power (MAGTF) with a command component, Aviation Fight Factor (Medium Marine Tiltrotor Squadron 365 (Strengthened), Floor Fight Factor (Battalion Touchdown Group 1/8), and Logistics Fight Factor (Fight Logistics Battalion 24).
For greater than 80 years, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-U.S. Naval Forces Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) has solid strategic relationships with our Allies and companions, leveraging a basis of shared values to protect safety and stability.
To be taught extra about WASP ARG and Twenty fourth MEU “Group of Groups,” go to their DVIDS characteristic web page at https://www.dvidshub.internet/characteristic/wasparg24thmeu.
You could find Amphibious Squadron 4, Wasp Amphibious Prepared Group on Fb and DVIDS.
You could find the Twenty fourth Marine Expeditionary Unit on Fb, Twitter (@the24MEU), Instagram (@24MEU), and DVIDS.
You could find USS Wasp on Fb and Instagram (@usswasp_lhd1)
You could find USS New York on Fb and Instagram (@uss_newyork)
You could find USS Oak Hill on Fb.
