USS Boxer (LHD-4)

The sixth USS "Boxer" (LHD-4) is a sclass|Wasp|amphibious assault ship of the United States Navy.

"Boxer" was constructed at Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi, launched 13 August 1993, and commissioned 11 February 1995. She immediately left for San Diego, California via the Panama Canal, but although designed to fit the Canal, her bridge wing and other smaller components were sheared off in the transit.

After minor repairs and system checkout, "Boxer" deployed to the Western Pacific 24 March 1997 to 24 September 1997, along with USS|Ogden|LPD-5|2 and USS|Fort Fisher|LSD-40|2, and visited many foreign ports of call. "Boxer" also participated in RIMPAC the following year, then on 5 December 1998 deployed again to the Western Pacific.

"Boxer" deployed again to the Western Pacific, Persian Gulf and Red Sea on March 14, 2001 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Northern Watch. She visited Singapore, Thailand, Guam, Jebel Ali, Bahrain, and Jordan, returning to the United States on 14 September 2001, just three days after the attacks of September 11, 2001.

As a result of the impending war and need for troops in Iraq, "Boxer" found herself deploying yet again, this time six months ahead of schedule. This was a 6 month deployment in direct support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Deployed with six other ships from San Diego, CA on January 17, 2003: USS|Bonhomme Richard|LHD-6|6, USS|Anchorage|LSD-36|6, USS|Cleveland|LPD-7|6, USS|Comstock|LSD-19|6, USS|Dubuque|LPD-8|6 and USS|Pearl Harbor|LSD-52|6.

She returned to the United States on July 26, 2003.

Also in 2003 she won the Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award for the Pacific Fleet.

In another early deployment to become known as a surge deployment, "Boxer" steamed alone from San Diego on January 14, 2004 to support on the ongoing rebuilding efforts in Iraq, dubbed Operation Iraqi Freedom II. She delivered equipment and supplies to Kuwaiti Naval Base in the northern Persian Gulf for the continuing support of the post-war rebuilding of Iraq. She returned home on April 29, 2004.

The USS "Boxer" was deployed with the 15th MEU from its San Diego port on September 13, 2006. It arrived to Iraq in November and returned to dock in San Diego on May 31, 2007.

From April 20, 2008 to June 26, 2008, "Boxer" conducted a humanitarian mission in Central and South America. [ [http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=49996 USS Boxer Supports ‘Continuing Promise’ in El Salvador] ]

References

*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/b8/boxer.htm

External links

* [http://www.boxer.navy.mil USS "Boxer" homepage]
* [http://www.maritimequest.com/warship_directory/us_navy_pages/amphibious_assault_ships/boxer_lhd_4/uss_boxer_lhd_4.htm Maritimequest USS Boxer LHD-4 Photo Gallery]
* [http://specials.rediff.com/news/2006/oct/30sld2.htm A Day on a US Warship] USS Boxer participated in Malabar 2006 - the eighth, in a series of naval war games involving the forces of the United States and India, that had its genesis in 1994.
* [http://www.ussboxer.com USS "Boxer" Veterans Association]
* [http://www.hullnumber.com/LHD-4 LHD-4 Personnel Roster at HullNumber.com]
* [http://www.uscarriers.net/lhd4history.htm USS Boxer history at U.S. Carriers]