USS Guadalcanal amphibious assault ship

USS Guadalcanal amphibious assault ship is established as both a command presence in the squadron and a platform for a nighttime helicopter flight toward Yalta. Its clearest operational appearance comes when five CH-53 Sea Stallions launched from the ship arrive to be guided in by Marines and sailors using flashlights as landing signals.

Command Presence

The ship is represented in a squadron gathering through its skipper, Steve Marusko, who is named among the attending senior personnel. Colonel Winston Howell, commanding officer of the Marine detachment assigned to MEU-25, is also present, linking the ship’s place in the squadron to the Marine contingent.

Helicopter Operations

The Guadalcanal provides the five large, gray CH-53 Sea Stallions that fly toward Yalta through the darkness at low altitude. Their arrival is announced first by the distant beat of rotors, which swells into a roar as they come in one after another. Marines and sailors use flashlights as landing signals, making the ship’s contribution concrete: it has put the aircraft and their crews into motion, while personnel at the destination guide them down.