Posted 10/31/2009
SOUTH CHINA SEA (Oct. 29, 2009) Gunner's Mate Seaman Thomas Chapman, from Abeline, Texas, assigned to the amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46), prepares to fire a shot line across to the Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oiler USNS John Ericsson (T-AO 194) to establish communications during a refueling at sea. Tortuga is part of the Denver Amphibious Ready Group conducting a fall patrol with the embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in the western Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Geronimo Aquino)