By Trista Talton - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Aug 14, 2007 12:03:19 EDT

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. — A detachment of about 70 Marines with an East Coast-based CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopter squadron are heading for the Horn of Africa on Tuesday.

The leathernecks are with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 464, one of two CH-53 squadrons at Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., that alternate sending detachments every six months to Camp Lemonier in Djibouti, said Cpl. Brandon Gale, an air station spokesman.

While the Sea Stallions remain in Djibouti, detachments that include an officer in charge, pilots and maintainers rotate in and out of the Horn of Africa, he said. Smaller groups of Marines are used so the squadrons can continue supporting other missions, such as humanitarian assistance, Marine expeditionary units and Operation Iraqi Freedom deployments.

The Marines leaving Tuesday will deploy for about six months to provide heavy-lift and assault support to the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2007/08/marine_hmh464_deploy_070814/