The mood on the ship has gone from mundane to excited. We are on LHD 2, the USS Essex. We are part of the Amphibious Ready Group (A.R.G. - yes, pronounced like the pirate word aarrrggg... pretty apropos if you ask me) that has been diverted from operation Balikitan to help with the mudslide in Southern Leyte in the Philippine islands. This is the same location where the largest surface naval battle in history occurred. (By surface I mean on the water, not aircraft dominated... I.E. ship to ship... not that anyone really cares but me)

Point is that we are getting to help some really desperate people. It's great. As a cobra pilot, I'm severely restricted where I can go. the landslide sight is not one of those locations. But we are being utilized to ferry parts to different locations for aircraft that have had mechanical issues and cannot make it back to the ship. I hope to get my feet on the ground to physically help out and have made those desires clear to my command, but I will do as I am ordered. I will be happy that I am getting to help out on any level, but I'd like to get my hands in the mud, literally, that is just how I am.

The Philippine islands are remarkably beautiful. On my last excursion here I didn't get to see much but the interior of the northern most island. It was indeed beautiful, but all of my flying was done at night. This time I have seen some amazing sights and will be posting some of the photos very soon if this network can handle it.

Unlike Iraq, the people here are not shooting at us for bringing assistance! In fact, the resistance here is organized and disciplined unlike Iraq. In Iraq, the enemy is usually a bunch of thugs with rifles, nothing more than heavily armed street gangs with little morals and an interest in their personal financial future, with no care for the future of the country or the local populace. (There are organized groups, but they are few and mostly centered around Baghdad and Ramadi) These rebels told their people not to attack because we came to help, and their people listen. Go figure. That is the difference for someone fighting for their people or a belief, and someone fighting for power or money. Yap, yap, yap... any way, the point is that we are not being hampered by the rebels, in fact I'm sure we are indirectly helping some of them.

Well, I've got some great pictures so here is the link again:Pictures

They should be up soon.

Keep up the good fight on the home front, we'll do the same out here.

From the USS Essex in the Leyte Gulf,
Koyote out