Trip Report: From Hawaii to Guam, Malaysia, Maldives, Oman, and Bahrain

[Dave]

In 2009 I deployed to the Far East, Middle East and Horn of Africa as the Senior Medical Department Representative for the 1st Battalion 1st Marines. We were part of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit and sailed aboard the USS New Orleans LPD-17 with the USS Boxer Expeditionary Strike Group of "Captain Phillips" fame.


Here's a few pictures I'd like to share with you all!


After San Diego we went to Pearl Harbor. USS Arizona Memorial and the USS Missouri seen here from our bridge as we are leaving for Guam.

Penang, Malaysia (aka George Town) was a blast. Lots to see and do here although the sea water quality kept me on dry land here.

Fort Cornwallis, Penang. This was the original British presence in the region, before Singapore was established.

The Maldives. You MUST go there - absolutely the best place I have ever been for snorkeling, diving, spearfishing and just going native. Here's a shipwreck we saw between Madivaru and Hinnavuru islands, Lhavviyani Atoll.

When not working we were in the water. At night we ate like kings!

Sultanate of Oman. A nice collection of Toyota 70 Series Land Cruisers and a Hilux

Omani Army Mantra. This would make a sweet overlander!

Omani Army Pinzgauer

Omani Army Land Rover. The Omani's have all the cool rigs!

 

[Dave]

But Wait, There's More!

Here are some more of my favorite pics.


Burmese Buddhist Temple in Penang, supposedly the only Burmese Buddhist Temple in Malaysia

The worlds largest sleeping Buddha, Thai Buddhist Temple, Penang

The Marine War Dog Memorial on Guam

Might Mo, USS Missouri BB63, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

USS Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor

Outside the Thai Buddhist Temple, Penang

Flying into Madivaru, Maldives via CH-46. Unbelievable coral reefs and marine life await!

Here is our combined medical and dental crew on Madivaru. We used this island as a basecamp during our four day medical and dental mission providing care for the inhabitants of two neighboring islands, Naifaru and Hinnavaru

We saw over 1,000 combined medical and dental patients over the course of four days in the Maldives

Thai Buddhist Temple, Penang, Malaysia

Tiger Beer, keow teoy chow, chicken curry and rice at a street cafe in Batu Ferringhi, Penang

Training with the Maldives National Defence Force, Madivaru, Maldives

Rowboat in the Maldives

Our little marina

LCU offloading at Madivaru

Fish feast in Maldives

Golden Buddha at Burmese Buddhist Temple, Penang

Directing a mass casualty drill in cooperation with the physicians and staff of Sultan Qaboos Hospital in Salalah, Sultanate of Oman

Camels doing as they please on the road from Salalah to Thumrait, Oman.

Our gas station at sea courtesy of the Military Sealift Command, mid Pacific

Monkeys fist across their bow to get the lines across for underway refueling

Topping off in some pretty good seas

 

[Dave]

Detour, Repairs and Horn of Africa

Our ship, USS New Orleans, had a collision with a US sub (they hit us at periscope depth... long story) while transiting heading into the Persian Gulf via the Straights of Hormuz. Quite an experience being struck in the middle of the night by a submarine-sized torpedo!

Life at the Asry shipyard in Mina Salman in Bahrain is... industrial to say the least. Here's where I live for now.

And when we're off duty we head to the CPO Club!

Once the ship was repaired in Bahrain we headed for Africa.


Here are some pics from Djibouti!


Me and the boys at the 13th Foreign Legion Demi-Brigade (13 DBLE), base at Arta Beach, Djibouti.

French Foreign Legion mountaineering course - "course of the crazy"

French Foreign Legion Peugeot P4: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peugeot_P4

Renault VAB armored car

French FAMAS 5.56 rifle. I was surprised at the light weight and high quality of this rifle.

My Battalion Aid Station at Arta Beach - Maximum Shade was needed due to 110 temps with 80% humidity!

AAV's returning to the New Orleans from Arta Beach

The well at Arta Beach - plenty of water here for all!

Me and my boys: The Corpsmen of 1st Battalion 1st Marines!

The day after this picture was taken I was nearly killed in a vehicle accident and was transported home after surgeries at Landstuhl, Germany. But that is a story for another day...

 

[David Croyle]

It goes without saying really... But thanks for sharing that. And for your service.

I've been to the Arizona memorial at Pearl twice, but unfortunately that was before the Missouri was there.

is that a triage tag you're holding in the one photo?

All interesting stuff... Thanks again for sharing.