Keywords: US Navy 080620-N-7843A-039 The amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) is guided by a tugboat into White Beach Naval Facility in Okinawa to offload the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit after a successful spring patrol.jpg en OKINAWA Japan June 20 2008 The amphibious assault ship USS Essex LHD 2 is guided by a tugboat into White Beach Naval Facility in Okinawa to offload the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit after a successful spring patrol Essex is the lead ship of the only forward deployed U S Expeditionary Strike Group and serves as the flagship for CTF 76 the Navy's only forward deployed amphibious force commander Task Force 76 is headquartered at White Beach Naval Facility Okinawa Japan with a detachment in Sasebo Japan U S Navy photo by Lt Denver Applehans Released 2008-06-20 080620-N-7843A-039 Navy http //www navy mil/view_image asp id 60523 U S Navy photo by Lt Denver Applehans PD-USGov-Military-Navy Aboard USS Essex LHD-2 White Beach Naval Facility |