USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6)

USS "Bonhomme Richard" (LHD-6) is an Amphibious Assault Ship, and the third United States Navy ship of that name, was named in honor of John Paul Jones' famous frigate, which he had named the French language equivalent of "father or older man Richard," in honor of Benjamin Franklin, the U.S. Ambassador to France at the time. The name Bonhomme Richard is derived from the pen name of Benjamin Franklin, the author of "Poor Richard's Almanac."

"Bonhomme Richard" ("Revolutionary Gator") is a "Wasp"-class amphibious assault ship currently homeported in San Diego, California. The contract to build her was awarded to Ingalls Shipbuilding on December 11, 1992, and her keel was laid down on April 18, 1995. She was launched on March 14, 1997, delivered to the Navy on May 12, 1998, and commissioned on August 15, 1998.

Mission

The primary mission of USS "Bonhomme Richard" is to embark, deploy and land elements of a Marine landing force in amphibious assault operations by helicopter, landing craft and amphibious vehicle.

Commissioning

USS "Bonhomme Richard" (LHD-6) departed its building yard, Ingalls Shipbuilding division of Litton Industries, Pascagoula, Mississippi, on August 8, sailing into Pensacola Harbor at Naval Air Station Pensacola for commissioning activities and on Saturday, August 15, 1998.

U.S. Representative John P. Murtha, of Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District delivered the principal commissioning address. The Secretary of the Navy, John H. Dalton, placed the new ship in commission.

Congressman Murtha's wife, Mrs. Joyce Murtha, of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, served as Ship's Sponsor for LHD-6, and christened the ship at Ingalls in May 1997. During LHD-6's commissioning, Mrs. Murtha gave the traditional order to "Man our ship and bring her to life!"

Other commissioning participants of note included Mississippi's Fifth District Representative, Congressman Gene Taylor; Admiral Donald L. Pilling, USN, Vice Chief of Naval Operations; Vice Admiral Patricia Tracey, USN, Chief of Naval Education & Training; and Jerry St. Pe', Senior Vice President of Litton Industries and President of Ingalls Shipbuilding.

Shield and Crest

Dark blue and gold are the colors traditionally used by the United States Navy. The red, white, and blue shield reflects the national colors of the USA and suggests its coat of arms. The six red stripes represent the ship's hull number as well as the six coins placed beneath the mast during mast stepping; red being the color of valor and sacrifice. The gold fleur-de-lis highlights the heritage of the first ship named "Bonhomme Richard". The wreath of two green laurel branches symbolizes honor and high achievement commemorating the two previous ships carrying the name "Bonhomme Richard". The eagle, overlooking the fleur-de-lis, adapted from historic flags and documents of the American Revolutionary era, symbolizes the fighting spirit, patriotic fervor, and tenacity of both John Paul Jones and the United States Navy. The eagle is flanked by six gold stars representing the battle stars earned by the second "Bon Homme Richard" during World War II and the Korean War underscoring the heritage and continuing resolve of the fighting Navy. The chief is blue with a wavy edge suggesting a shoreline and reflecting the amphibious mission of the "Bonhomme Richard". The trident is emblematic of sea prowess and power from the sea; It has wings to commemorate the second "Bon Homme Richard", an aircraft carrier and the three tines further represent the three areas of that ship's sea battle service: World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. The trident is scarlet, a color traditionally used by the United States Marine Corps, and highlights action and zeal thus underscoring the ship's assault and battle insertion mission combining the land, sea, and air elements of the fighting force. The trident, synergistically combined with the crossed U.S. Navy and Marine swords, symbolizes combat readiness and teamwork highlighting the current LHD's potent amphibious and heliborne assault capabilities in the deployment of forces ashore.

Deployments

* Operation Southern Watch (January 24, 2000 to July 24, 2000)- First (WESTPAC) deployment of US naval ships in the 2000s.
* Operation Enduring Freedom (December 1, 2001 to June 18, 2002)
* Operation Iraqi Freedom (17 January 2003 to 26 July 2003)
** "Bonhomme Richard" played two significant roles in Operation Iraqi Freedom. First, it offloaded more than 1,000 Marines and gear from the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines into Kuwait. Then after delivering her attack and transport helicopters, troops, and vehicles she took up position just miles off the coast of Kuwait and became one of two Harrier Carriers along with USS Bataan (LHD-5) in the Persian Gulf—launching AV-8B Harrier strike aircraft into Iraq. Pilots from Marine Attack Squadrons 211 and 311, embarked aboard "Bonhomme Richard", expended more than 175,000 pounds (79,000 kg) of ordnance, providing close air support to the Marines on the ground and during predetermined strikes in Iraq. During Operation Iraqi Freedom the "Bonhomme Richard" launched more than 800 sorties, including 547 combat launches.
* Operation Iraqi Freedom (6 December 2004 to TBD) Detached to Sri Lanka to provide support for relief efforts following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and its subsequent tsunamis. On 4 January 2005: Helping airlift relief supplies to the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. [http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=16499]
* Operation Unified Assistance (5 January 2005 to February 2005) On a port visit in Guam on 28 December, "Bonhomme Richard" and her expeditionary strike group were ordered to the Indian Ocean to help in relief efforts following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. Her helicopters flew supplies and medical personnel into various areas of Indonesia, as well as evacuating the wounded.
* (23 May 2007 to ?) Joined with two carrier groups (USS John C. Stennis and USS Nimitz) off the coast of Iran to carry out previously unannounced air and sea.
* RIMPAC 2008, July 2008. Maneuvers in the Kaulakahi Channel (between Kauai and Niihau Islands, Hawaii), near PMRF.

Port calls (visits)

* Pearl Harbor (Honolulu, Hawaii), Hawaii (November 2007)
* Fremantle, Australia (October 2007)
* San Francisco, California (8 October through 11 October 2006) for Fleet Week
* Victoria, B.C (May 2006)
* Manama, Bahrain (February 2005)
* Jabel Ali, UAE (March 2005)
* Brisbane, Australia (May 2005)
* Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (May 2005)
* Seattle, Washington (August 2005)
* Seattle, Washington (5 August through 9 August 2004) for Seafair Fleet Week
* Everett, Washington (4 August 2004)
* Seattle, Washington (August 2004)
* Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (December 2004)
* San Francisco, California (8 September 2003)
* Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (13 July through 17 July 2003)
* Sydney, Australia (20 June 2003)
* Townsville, Australia {May 2002}
* Phuket, Thailand (2002)
* Singapore {March 2000 December 2001}
* Cabo San Lucas, Mexico (February 2001)

Unit awards

* 2006
** Battle Efficiency Award
* 2005
** Command, Control, Communications and Information Warfare Excellence Award
** Blue 'E' for Logistics Management Excellence Award
** Green 'H' for Force Wellness Award
* 2004
** Blue 'E' for Logistics Management Excellence Award
* 2003
** Blue 'E' for Logistics Management Excellence Award
* 2002
** Battle Efficiency Award
** Maritime Warfare Excellence Award
** Engineering Excellence Award
** Command, Control, Communications and Information Warfare Excellence Award
** Green 'H' Force Wellness Award
** Ney Award
** Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet Retention Excellence Award
** Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet Intelligence Excellence Award
* 2001
** Battle Efficiency Award
** Navy Unit Commendation (Sept. 11, 2001 to 3 March 2002)
** CNO Safety Award
** Maritime Warfare Excellence Award
** Engineering Excellence Award
** Blue 'E' for Logistics Management Excellence Award
** Green 'H' for Force Wellness Award
** Allen G. Ogden Award
** Ney Award
* 2000
** Battle Efficiency Award
** CNO Safety Award
** Maritime Warfare Excellence Award
** Engineering Excellence Award
** Blue 'E' for Logistics Management Excellence Award
** Green 'H' for Force Wellness Award
** Allen G. Ogden Award
** Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (22 March 2000 to 8 June 2000)
* 1999
** CNO Safety Award
** Green 'H' for Force Wellness Award
** Allen G. Ogden Award
* 1998
** Green 'H' for Force Wellness Award

References

*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/b8/bon-homme-richard-iii.htm

External links

* [http://www.lhd6.navy.mil USS "Bonhomme Richard" Homepage]
* [http://www.lhd6.navy.mil/_files/photo_album/photo_album.htm USS "Bonhomme Richard" Photo Album]
* [http://www.maritimequest.com/warship_directory/us_navy_pages/amphibious_assault_ships/bonhomme_richard_lhd_6/uss_bonhomme_richard_lhd_6.htm Maritimequest USS Bonhomme Richard LHD-6 Photo Gallery]
* [http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=6134 ‘Harrier Carrier’ On Station, Ready for Call to Action]
* [http://modelshipbuilder.com/models/model-ship-builder-pierre-and-jacques-mailliere.html "A scaled model of the original Bonhomme Richard] An exquisite model began by an exceptional model builder and completed by his son after his untimely death of this famous ship.
* [http://www.hullnumber.com/LHD-6 LHD-6 Personnel Roster at HullNumber.com]
* [http://www.uscarriers.net/lhd6history.htm USS Bonhomme Richard history at U.S. Carriers]