...and a few military photos

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GULF OF THAILAND (May 8, 2008) A Marine MH-53 helicopter, assigned to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265 (HMM-265), takes off May 8, 2008 from the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2). U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class David Didier



SATTAHIP, Thailand (May 8, 2008) U. S. Marines assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and Sailors assigned to Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 1 and Beachmaster Unit (BMU 1) prepare to unload Landing Craft Utility (LCU) 1631 after transporting vehicles and equipment from the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2). Essex is participating in Cobra Gold 2008, a joint military exercise sponsored by the United States and Thailand designed to enhance interoperability between joint U.S. forces and the combined forces of the Thai, Singaporean, Japanese and Indonesian militaries. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Gabriel S. Weber



... This ship has yet to be built... WASHINGTON (May 7, 2008) A photo illustrations of the guided-missile destroyer USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) & USN Lt Murphy Medal of Honor citation.. The ship will be named after Lt. Michael P. Murphy (Sea, Air, Land) who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during combat in Afghanistan on 27 and 28 June 2005. U.S. Navy Photo Illustration by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jay Chu (Released)

Michael Murphy was one of the SEAL's killed in action in Afghanistan. I mentioned the book Lone Survivor in previous posts. I recommend EVERYONE read this book. The story is about a SEAL team that gets ambushed and only one of the four survive the ordeal. RIP Michael Murphy...



Chinooks fly over London


An ultra-Orthodox Jewish boy tries out an Israli army M-16 rifle as he visits a military display in the southern town of Sderot, nearby the Gaza Strip, as part of Israel's celebration for their 60th anniversary of statehood on 08 May 2008



An Australian Army sniper displays his weapon during a training exercise at the Puckapunyal Army Area, some 125 kilometres north of Melbourne on May 8, 2008. The live fire excercise included tanks, armoured vehicles, artillery, missiles and small arms and showcased the lastest weapons to senior Army officers.



A fully armed MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle taxis down the runway at an air base in Afghanistan on its way to a wartime mission, May 4, 2008. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Brian Ferguson