Sailors, Marines deliver aid to typhoon-stricken Saipan
U.S. Marines and sailors with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit load into an MV-22B Osprey aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), Aug. 8, 2015. The 31st MEU is staging Ospreys in Guam in support of typhoon recovery efforts in Saipan. The aircraft will be on standby in the event their aerial lift capacity is needed to distribute emergency supplies to remote areas. Saipan, the most populated island in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, was struck by Typhoon Soudelor Aug. 2-3. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Tyler Ngiraswei/ Released)SANTA RITA, Guam (Aug. 6, 2015) – USS Ashland (LSD 48) Sailors and 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) Marines return to the ship Aug. 6 to prepare for deployment to Saipan. Ashland and the 31st MEU will support relief efforts in the aftermath of Typhoon Soudelor.SANTA RITA, Guam (Aug. 7, 2015) - USS Ashland (LSD 48) Commanding Officer Cmdr. Daniel Duhan briefs local media about the ship’s operations during a media availability on U.S. Naval Base Guam Aug. 7. Ashland and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit will support relief efforts in Saipan in the aftermath of Typhoon Soudelor, which devastated the island Aug. 2-3. (U.S. Navy photo by JoAnna Delfin/Released)FADANG, Saipan (Aug. 6, 2015) – Sgt. Matthew Butler and Sgt. Jorge Lopez, soldiers assigned to the 249th Engineer Battalion, disembark from a Helicopter Sea Combat (HSC) Squadron 25 MH-60 helicopter. The 249th Engineer Battalion, is working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide electrical capabilities to critical facilities in Saipan following Typhoon Soudelor. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist 2nd Class Jonathan T. Erickson/Released)U.S. Marines help guide locals to food and water at a shelter in Saipan, Aug. 9, 2015. The Marines with Echo Company, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, are assisting local and federal agencies with typhoon relief efforts in Saipan after the island was struck by Typhoon Soudelor, Aug. 2-3. The MEU, along with the U.S. Navy ships of the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group, was conducting training in the vicinity of the Mariana Islands when it was rerouted to assist in Saipan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo Cpl. Ryan C. Mains/Released)U.S. Marines move water bladders out of an MV-22B Osprey at Saipan International Airport, Saipan, Aug. 9, 2015. The water bladders, able to hold 3,000 gallons, allow the distribution of water to those affected by the recent typhoon. The Marines with Echo Company, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, are assisting local and federal agencies with typhoon relief efforts in Saipan after the island was struck by Typhoon Soudelor, Aug. 2-3. The MEU, along with the U.S. Navy ships of the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group, was conducting training in the vicinity of the Mariana Islands when it was rerouted to assist relief efforts in Saipan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo Cpl. Ryan C. Mains/Released)U.S. Marines help hand out food to locals at a shelter in Saipan, Aug. 9, 2015. The Marines with Echo Company, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, are assisting local and federal agencies with typhoon relief efforts in Saipan after the island was struck by Typhoon Soudelor, Aug. 2-3. The MEU, along with the U.S. Navy ships of the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group, was conducting training in the vicinity of the Mariana Islands when it was rerouted to assist in Saipan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo Cpl. Ryan C. Mains/Released)150808-N-KM939-370 SAIPAN HARBOR, Saipan (Aug. 8, 2015) - A crane lifts a pallet of supplies off the flight deck of the amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) during disaster relief efforts in Saipan after Typhoon Soudelor made landfall. Ashland is assigned to the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group and is on patrol in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications 3rd Class David A. Cox/Released)U.S. Marines help move boxes of water at Admiral Herbert G. Hopwood Junior High School in Saipan, Aug. 9, 2015. The Marines with Echo Company, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, are assisting local and federal agencies with typhoon relief efforts in Saipan after the island was struck by Typhoon Soudelor, Aug. 2-3. The MEU, along with the U.S. Navy ships of the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group, was conducting training in the vicinity of the Mariana Islands when it was rerouted to assist in Saipan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo Cpl. Ryan C. Mains/Released)150808-N-KM939-020 PACIFIC OCEAN (Aug. 8, 2015) - Quartermaster 2nd Class Thomas Hoffman from Los Angeles, looks through the "Big Eyes" on the amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) while entering Saipan Harbor where the ship will provide disaster relief in Saipan after Typhoon Soudelor made landfall. Ashland is assigned to the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group and is on patrol in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications 3rd Class David A. Cox/Released)150808-N-KM939-250 SAIPAN HARBOR, Saipan (Aug. 8, 2015) - Sailors wait for a crane to lower supplies from the flight deck of the amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) during disaster relief efforts in Saipan after Typhoon Soudelor made landfall. Ashland is assigned to the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group and is on patrol in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications 3rd Class David A. Cox/Released)150808-N-KM939-449 SAIPAN HARBOR, Saipan (Aug. 8, 2015) - Vehicles from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) are unloaded from the well deck of the amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) via Landing Craft Utility vehicle during disaster relief efforts in Saipan after Typhoon Soudelor made landfall. Ashland is assigned to the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group and is on patrol in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications 3rd Class David A. Cox/Released)150808-N-KM939-350 SAIPAN HARBOR, Saipan (Aug. 8, 2015) - Cmdr. Daniel P. Duhan, commanding officer of the amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48), shows Saipan news and television reporters the ship’s flight deck during offload of supplies in Saipan during disaster relief efforts. Ashland is assigned to the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group and is on patrol in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications 3rd Class David A. Cox/Released)SAIPAN HARBOR, Saipan - The amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) departs Saipan Aug. 9, 2015. The island was battered by Typhoon Soudelor Aug. 2 and Ashland arrived Aug. 7 for recovery efforts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Joshua Smoot/Released)