END OF THE LINE FOR USS TARAWA

I think a lot of Swabs and Grunts have served aboard this gal, so, here's to all of you ...

For the rest of you:

The U.S. Navy announced that the amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa (LHA 1) will be decommissioned March 31, 2009, at Naval Base San Diego. Tarawa completed her 14th and final Western Pacific deployment in June and returned from her last operational exercise — Fuerzas Aliadas Panamax 2008 in the Panama Canal zone -- to her homeport of San Diego August 29.

Tarawa, named in remembrance of the Battle of Tarawa that began Nov. 19, 1943 and lasted for 76 hours, was the first of the LHA class of ships and is the third to be decommissioned.

During Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, Tarawa played a major role. Tarawawas also called upon to aid with humanitarian assistance operations during Sea Angel and Sea Angel II following the deadly cyclones that affected Bangladesh in 2007. These humanitarian assistance efforts were instrumental in the ship being awarded the 2007 Battle Efficiency Award.