171221-N-OW019-026 U.S. 5TH FLEET AREA OF OPERATIONS (Dec. 21, 2017) Seaman Gerardo Tappan, assigned to the deck department aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52), stands watch on the port bridge wing while the ship transits the Bab-Al Mendeb. Pearl Harbor, with the embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of maritime security operations to reassure allies and partners and preserve the freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce in the region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Logan C. Kellums/Released)