Keywords: US Navy 060218-N-C4880-002 Operations Specialist 3rd Class Eddie Garcia stands watch on the signal bridge aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2).jpg en San Bernadino Straits Republic of the Philippines Feb 18 2006 - Operations Specialist 3rd Class Eddie Garcia stands watch on the signal bridge aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Essex LHD 2 Essex is transiting the waters surrounding Verde Island en route to the Philippine Island of Leyte Essex along with the dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry LSD 49 are on their way to the area in support of emergent humanitarian relief efforts for the victims of a devastating landslide Both ships are part of the Forward Deployed Amphibious Ready Group the Navy s only forward-deployed amphibious force homeported in Sasebo Japan U S Navy photo by Journalist 1st Class James Evans Coyle RELEASED 2006-02-18 060218-N-C4880-002 Navy http //www navy mil/view_image asp id 32055 U S Navy photo PD-USGov-Military-Navy Images from US Navy location San Bernadino Straits Republic of the Philippines Operations Specialist United States Navy |