The amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) sits at anchor off the coast of Korea, conducting air and amphibious operations. Essex is the lead ship of the only forward-deployed U.S. Expeditionary Strike Group and serves as the flagship for CTF 76, the Navy's only forward-deployed amphibious force commander. Task Force 76 is headquartered at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan, with a detachment in Sasebo, Japan. www.navy.mil