Fire Aboard USS Boxer Injures 2 Sailors

In this December 2008 file photo, the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) performs maneuvers off the coast of Southern California. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Daniel Barker.)

Dispatches from the Front:

USS BOXER, At Sea, March 14, 2009 -- A fire broke out on the flight deck of USS Boxer (LHD 4) at approximately 4:15 p.m. March 13 while refueling an AH-1W Super Cobra in the Gulf of Aden.

Two Sailors sustained injuries during the incident and are being treated by the ship's medical department.

They are in stable condition and are expected to make a full recovery within the week. No other Sailors or Marines were injured during the fire.

The cause of the fire is under investigation and no further details are available at this time.

The helicopter is assigned to the Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron (HMM) 163 (Reinforced) with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit embarked aboard Boxer.

Boxer is conducting Maritime Security Operations in the Gulf of Aden as part of Coalition Task Force (CTF) 151. Homeported in San Diego, Boxer assumed the role as flagship for CTF 151 March 8, after arriving in the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Operations as part of a regularly scheduled deployment.

(Report from a U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Public Affairs news release.)

Tags: DOD, Military, War, United States, U.S., NAVCENT, Maritime Security Operation, Fifth Fleet, Navy, Dispatches from the Front, Piracy, CTF 151, Marines, Marine Corps, USS Boxer, LHD 4
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