Published: January 05, 2009 11:00 am      

Hometown heroes

Frankston residents return from six-month Naval deployments

Navy Airman Larry T. Hendrix, son of Larry T. and Tamara Hendrix of Frankston and Tina M. and Henry L. Owen, all of Frankston, along with fellow sailors and Marines aboard USS Peleliu (LHA 5), the flagship of the Peleliu Expeditionary Strike Group (PELSEG), homeported in San Diego, Calif., recently returned from a six-month deployment to the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet areas of operation.

During the deployment, the PELSEG conducted maritime security operations (MSO), theater security cooperation, community relations projects, and participated with coalition nations in training exercises. The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit participated in training exercises Eager Mace and Infinite Moonlight.

Additionally, the PELSEG rescued six mariners from a sinking vessel in the Strait of Balabac and thwarted a pirate attack on a civilian merchant vessel in the Gulf of Aden.

Peleliu made port visits to Singapore; Manama, Bahrain; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Aqaba, Jordan; as well as Fremantle/Perth and Sydney, Australia. Additionally, 266 friends and family members participated in a “tiger cruise” from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, to San Diego.

MSO help develop security in the maritime environment, which promotes stability and global prosperity. These operations complement the counterterrorism and security efforts of regional nations and seek to disrupt violent extremists’ use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material.

The PELESG is led by Amphibious Squadron (COMPHIBRON) 3 and includes the flag ship, USS Peleliu; amphibious ships USS Dubuque (LPD 8) and USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52); the guided-missile cruiser USS Cape St. George (CG 71); and the guided-missile destroyers USS Halsey (DDG 97) and USS Benfold (DDG 65) and embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Hendrix is a 2004 graduate of Frankston High School and joined the Navy in February 2005.

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Navy Airman Hayley N. Sumrau, daughter of Susan M. and James F. Matthews of Frankston along with fellow sailors and Marines aboard USS Peleliu (LHA 5), the flagship of the Peleliu Expeditionary Strike Group (PELSEG), homeported in San Diego, Calif., recently returned from a six-month deployment to the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet areas of operation.

During the deployment, the PELSEG conducted maritime security operations (MSO), theater security cooperation, community relations projects, and participated with coalition nations in training exercises. The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit participated in training exercises Eager Mace and Infinite Moonlight.

Additionally, the PELSEG rescued six mariners from a sinking vessel in the Strait of Balabac and thwarted a pirate attack on a civilian merchant vessel in the Gulf of Aden.

Peleliu made port visits to Singapore; Manama, Bahrain; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Aqaba, Jordan; as well as Fremantle/Perth and Sydney, Australia. Additionally, 266 friends and family members participated in a “tiger cruise” from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii to San, Diego.

MSO help develop security in the maritime environment, which promotes stability and global prosperity. These operations complement the counterterrorism and security efforts of regional nations and seek to

disrupt violent extremists' use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material.

The PELESG is led by Amphibious Squadron (COMPHIBRON) 3 and includes the flag ship, USS Peleliu; amphibious ships USS Dubuque (LPD 8) and USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52); the guided-missile cruiser USS Cape St. George (CG 71); and the guided-missile destroyers USS Halsey (DDG 97) and USS Benfold (DDG 65) and embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Sumrau is a 2005 graduate of Brownsboro High School, and joined the Navy in August 2005.