Military briefs
By Staff
July 20, 2002
Navy Seaman DeMarco A. Brimlett, a 2000 graduate of Newton High School, recently departed on a six-month deployment to the Mediterranean Sea and Arabian Gulf. He is assigned to the guided missile destroyer USS Barry, homeported in Norfolk,Va.
Brimlett is one of more than 10,000 Atlantic Fleet Sailors and Marines aboard the ships of the USS George Washington Carrier Battle Group and USS Nassau Amphibious Ready Group standing ready to participate in Operation Enduring Freedom.
Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Wydell Roach, a 1990 graduate of Louisville High School, recently returned from a six-month deployment to the Western Pacific and Arabian Gulf. He was assigned to the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis, homeported in San Diego.
Roach was one of more than 10,000 Pacific Fleet Sailors and Marines aboard the ships of the USS John C. Stennis Carrier Battle Group and USS Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group who participated in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Anaconda.
During the tour, Roach's ship traveled more than 62,000 miles, launched more than 9,600 aircraft and dropped 275,000 pounds of ordnance.
Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Desmond J. Latham, the son of Princess L. Latham of Louisville, recently returned from a six-month deployment to the Mediterranean Sea and Arabian Gulf. He served aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu, homeported in San Diego.
Latham was one of the more than 10,000 Pacific Fleet Sailors and Marines aboard the ships of the USS John C. Stennis Carrier Battle Group and USS Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group participated in Operation Enduring Freedom.
While at sea, Latham's ship hosted Northern Alliance Freedom Fighters flown to the ship for medical treatment after an accident near Kandahar. Most of the Freedom Fighters were farmers who were amazed by the ship and the sight of the ocean as well as the care they received. USS Peleliu crew members donated clothing to their patients before returning them to their families in Afghanistan.
During the deployment, the crew visited Darwin, Perth and Sydney, Australia, where sailors had a chance to shop, sightsee and enjoy the local culture and cuisine.
Latham is a 1998 graduate of Louisville High School and joined the Navy in July 1998. He is a 2001 graduate of San Diego State University, where he earned an associate's degree.
