▁to ▁the ▁United ▁Kingdom , ▁Italy ▁and ▁other ▁locations ▁within ▁Germany ▁-- ▁quickly ▁re pl en ishing ▁the ▁Air ▁Force ' s ▁stock p ile ▁in ▁the ater ." ▁ ▁When ▁the ▁original ▁contract ▁exp ired ▁in ▁fis cal ▁year ▁ 2 0 0 2 , ▁Capt . ▁Steven ▁L . ▁Ben nett ▁" comp et ed ▁for ▁and ▁won ▁a ▁new ▁five - year ▁contract ▁and ▁re deploy ed ▁to ▁the ▁Mediter rane an ▁in ▁October ." ▁Capt . ▁Steven ▁L . ▁Ben nett , ▁as ▁a ▁ship ▁carrying ▁Air ▁Force ▁cargo , ▁was ▁used ▁extens ively ▁during ▁fis cal ▁year ▁ 2 0 0 2 ▁to ▁support ▁Operation ▁End uring ▁Fre edom , ▁Operation ▁Ira qi ▁Fre edom , ▁and ▁the ▁global ▁war ▁on ▁terror ism . ▁▁ ▁Capt . ▁Steven ▁L . ▁Ben nett ▁had ▁an ▁event ful ▁ 2 0 0 3 . ▁ ▁Still ▁assigned ▁to ▁M PS ▁Squadron ▁One , ▁she ▁started ▁the ▁year ▁in ▁the ▁Mediter rane an . ▁In ▁April , ▁she ▁delivered ▁cargo ▁to ▁the ▁Pers ian ▁G ulf ▁and ▁continued ▁on ▁to ▁Diego ▁Gar cia . ▁In ▁July , ▁she ▁returned ▁briefly ▁to ▁the ▁United ▁States , ▁stopping ▁en ▁route ▁in ▁Northern ▁Europe ▁to ▁drop ▁off ▁and ▁load ▁additional ▁cargo . ▁ ▁In ▁late ▁ 2 0 0 3 , ▁Vice ▁Ad m . ▁David ▁Bre wer ▁III , ▁commander ▁of ▁Military ▁Se al ift ▁Command , ▁awarded ▁the ▁officers ▁and ▁crew members ▁of ▁Ben nett ▁the ▁Mer chant ▁Marine ▁Ex ped ition