Seaman Neferitria Bennefield, assigned to the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2), assists in unloading a large truck loaded with supplies and gifts for the children and faculty at the Village <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=D%27Enfantes&amp;action=edit&amp;redlink=1" class="new" title="D'Enfantes (page does not exist)">D'Enfantes</a> orphanage during a community relations project. Essex and the embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit arrived in Sihanoukville recently for a scheduled port visit that gives Sailors and Marines the opportunity to participate in friendship-building community relations events, medical and dental projects and professional exchanges. Essex is the lead ship of the only forward-deployed U.S. Expeditionary Strike Group and serves as the flagship for CTF 76, the Navy's only forward-deployed amphibious force commander. Task Force 76 is headquartered at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan, with a detachment in Sasebo, Japan.
Petty Officer 1st Class Jeffrey Ballge
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