A Landing Craft Utility (LCU), is guided ashore by Sailors from Beach Master Unit One (BMU-1) as it transports U.S. Marines and their equipment ashore from the Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG)

Iwo Jima, Japan (Mar. 10, 2003) A Landing Craft Utility (LCU), is guided ashore by Sailors from Beach Master Unit One (BMU-1) as it transports U.S. Marines and their equipment ashore from the Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG). The Essex ARG, consisting of USS Essex (LHD 2), USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43), USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49), and USS Juneau (LPD 10), is off the coast of Iwo Jima to participate in the 58th commemoration of the historic WW II battle. Iwo Jima was the largest sustained aerial offensive of the Pacific Campaign of WW II, during which the U.S. sent over 110,000 Marines in 880 ships in what also became the largest invasion force of the Pacific Campaign. After 36 days of fighting and with more than 25,000 casualties, the U.S. managed to break through and bring the island under American control. Today's forward deployed Sailors from the Essex ARG and embarked Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, Special Operations Capable (31st MEU (SOC)), continue to sail throughout the Pacific to help promote peace and stability in the region. U.S. Navy photo by Journalist 2nd Class Wes Eplen. File# 030310-N-0401E-002