Coming-up : Cobra Gold 2008

Thai Supreme Commander General Montree Sungkasap (C) shakes hands with U.S.Deputy Chief of Mission James F.Entwistle (2-R), Japanese Deputy Chief of Mission Jun Niimi (R), Indonesian Deputy of Mission Djumantoro Purbo (L) and Singaporean Ambassador Peter Chan Jer Hing (2-L) during the opening ceremony of a joint military exercise of Cobra Gold 08 at the Air Combat Command, Nakhon Ratchasima province, about 260 km. northeast of Bangkok, Thailand, 08 May 2008. Cobra Gold 2008 is the multi-national joint military exercise held in coordination between the U.S, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and Japan of 14,373 participants involved for designed to promote regional peace and security.


The amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) at anchor in the Gulf of Thailand.


A Marine MH-53 helicopter, assigned to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265 (HMM-265), takes off May 8, 2008 from the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2).


GULF OF THAILAND (May 8, 2008) Landing Craft Utility (LCU) 1627 departs the well deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) in the Gulf of Thailand during Cobra Gold 2008.