U.S. Marine Sgt. Kim Dewerff, assigned to the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), holds his daughter prior to leaving on a Western Pacific deployment aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa (LHA 1).

The 13th MEU is deploying with Expeditionary Strike Group One (ESG-1) in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF).

U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Tony Spiker