OKINAWA, Japan (Jan. 28, 2011) Marines assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (31st MEU) embark aboard the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD2) for a patrol in the western Pacific Ocean. Essex is the lead ship of the forward-deployed Essex Amphibious Ready Group and is underway in the western Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Linda S. Swearingen/Released)
