Persian Gulf (Feb. 28, 2005) U.S. Marines and Sailors, assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), return to the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) aboard Landing Craft Utility 1627 (LCU 1627). The 31st MEU spent five months in Iraq conducting combat operations. Essex is forward deployed from Sasebo, Japan, and will be making the transit home once the 31st MEU backload is complete.