The Al Basrah Oil Terminal is covered in scars from shrapnel, mortars, bullets...the salty sea air turns the jagged edges to rusty, brittle acne that catches your soles and sleeves and pant legs and slowly weakens the structure.

While the rest of the ship was celebrating its deployment half-way mark, Command Master Chief Dave Colton signals an Indian Naval ship from the bridge wing of the cruiser Anzio (CG 68) in the Gulf of Aden. Colton began his Navy career as a signalman, but hasn't used his 'flashing lights' skills in a while - the Navy preferrs more modern means of communication like chat. When an Indian Naval ship signaled the Anzio, CMC Colton was happy to engage in conversation.

Quartermaster 2nd Class Joshua Livangood uses a Stadimeter to measure an elevation/range from the bridge of the cruiser Anzio (CG 68) at sea in the Somali Basin on Friday, August 21, 2009. The stadimeter cme out of a wooden box (see below) that looked and smelled old. I was surprised to see something so "classic" being used, but found out they also use a digital at close range. This just looked so NAVY.

Serial #008. Carbonara Labs in NY. Pretty Cool.

Some of these guys were in their racks, a couple were in their whites, but just a few minutes after getting the call that they needed to be suited up and ready for a possible crash on the flight deck, they were on the scene and ready to react. The helo landed safely, there was no crash, and two of them had to put their dress shoes back on.

I like making photos of the bows/foc'sles of ships, and I loved the whole visual-ness of the Al Basrah Oil Terminal, so here is a combination of the two.

Boatswains Mate 2nd Class Johnoliver Gosier prepares to be Cox'n of Adak's small boat for a personnel transfer from the US Coast Guard Cutter Adak (WPB 1333) off the coast of Iraq on Thursday, August 13, 2009.

On board the Thach, one of the most fit ships we visited, Sailors work out anywhere, any time. The ship's gym is called "Jimmy's House of Pain."

Red lights come on as The USS Thatch goes dark for the evening in the Arabian Gulf on Friday, August 14, 2009.