VOL. 53 NO. 32 AUGUST 14, 2014
SERVING NAVAL AIR STATION OCEANA, DAM NECK ANNEX, AND NALF FENTRESS
JET
INSIDE
SAILORS SALUTED AT TIDES BASEBALL GAME —Page 3
Sailors make final inspections on an F/A-18C Hornet from the “Golden Warriors” of VFA-87 aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) Aug. 7. George H.W. Bush is supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. Photo by MC3 Margaret Keith
Navy F/A-18s strike ISIL targets; U.S. aircraft drop food, water to Iraqi civilians Two U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornets assigned to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8 embarked on USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) struck Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant targets near Erbil, Iraq Aug. 8. The F/A-18s dropped 500 pound laser-guided bombs against ISIL artillery targets.Bush is operating in theArabian Gulf on a scheduled deployment to U.S. 5th Fleet. The day prior, President Barack Obama ordered U.S. aircraft to drop humanitarian supplies to tens of thousands of Yezidi refugees fleeing the terrorists of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in northern Iraq. Obama authorized two operations in Iraq. The first is targeted airstrikes to defend Americans.The most immediate threat now is in Irbil, where the United States maintains a consulate. ISIL has launched a broad attack that has threatened the city. The airstrikes are not limited to Irbil. Senior officials speaking on background after the president’s address said ISIL is a competent force that poses real danger to religious
minorities in Iraq. The president also ordered U.S. combat aircraft to be ready to launch airstrikes to protect Americans in Erbil, Iraq, and to lift the siege of the Yezidis. The first missions,a C-17 Globemaster III and two C-130 Hercules airlifters escorted by F/A18 Super Hornets, delivered supplies to the beleaguered Yezidis, a religious minority that ISIL has vowed to eliminate. During his Aug. 7 address, the president thanked American combat crews who are risking their lives over Iraq “for protecting our fellow Americans and saving the lives of so many men, women and children that they will never meet.” “They represent American leadership at its best,” he added. By Aug. 12, the U.S. military conducted its fifth airdrop of food and water for thousands of Iraqi citizens threatened by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant on Mount Sinjar in northern Iraq.
This airdrop, conducted from multiple airbases within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, included one C-17 and three C-130 cargo aircraft that together dropped a total of 76 bundles of supplies. U.S. fighter aircraft in the area supported the mission. The C-17 dropped 40 container delivery system bundles of fresh drinking water totaling 3,804 gallons. In addition, the three C-130s dropped 36 bundles totaling 11,088 meals ready to eat and 1,331 gallons of fresh drinking water. To date, in coordination with the government of Iraq, U.S. military aircraft have delivered more than 85,000 meals and more than 20,000 gallons of fresh drinking water, providing much-needed aid to the displaced Yezidis, who urgently require emergency assistance. Meanwhile, U.S. military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Iraq on Aug.10,successfully conducting multiple airstrikes from a
— See Airstrikes page 2
KENT PIETSCH BRINGS VERSATILE ACT TO OCEANA AIR SHOW —Page 8
MEET TANK R&B performer Tank will be making a special appearance at the NAS Oceana NEX, Aug. 20, 4 p.m., at the food court. Tank will be signing copies of his latest album, “Stronger,” as well as copies of previous albums during his appearance. The NEX will have copies of Stronger for sale. Event is open to authorized NEX patrons only.