Rear Adm. Marc H. Dalton, commander, U.S. Amphibious Force 7th Fleet, visited amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), Aug. 18.

The visit was Dalton's first official visit as Commander U.S. Amphibious Force 7th Fleet since assuming command Aug. 3 aboard Bonhomme Richard in Sasebo, Japan.

Throughout the visit, Dalton toured ship spaces, observed the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (31st MEU) onload and met with Bonhomme Richard's leadership.

"I'm impressed with the condition of the ships and the professionalism of our Sailors. The teamwork demonstrated with each other and with our 31st MEU Marines in a successful embark was especially impressive," said Dalton. "The integration of Marine forces to form the Blue-Green team is what makes us such a dynamic and capable amphibious force."

Bonhomme Richard recently departed from her homeport of Sasebo, Japan and embarked air cushion landing craft (LCAC) and aircraft prior to arriving at White Beach Naval Facility in Okinawa, Japan to onload Marines assigned to the 31st MEU as part of a scheduled deployment.

Bonhomme Richard, flagship of the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group, is operating in the 7th Fleet area of operations in support of security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

The BHR ESG consists of USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), USS Green Bay (LPD 20) and USS Germantown (LSD 42).


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