US Navy - 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit
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Accession NumberP392Title (extended title only)US Navy - 11th Marine Expeditionary UnitDescriptionUS Marine plaque – 11th Marine Expedition Unit
This plaque has a wooden base and has the badge used by the 11th MEU etched into it. It features an 11 in the background with an anchor in front of it. In front of the anchor is a small globe with wings coming out and a bald eagle on top of the globe. Below the globe is an assault rifle. Below this there is “11th MEU” written. There is a brass inscription at the bottom of the plaque and it reads:
IN GRATEFUL APPRECIATION
THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT
11TH MEU SOC
The back of the plaque has a gold-coloured sticker from the manufacturer of the plaque. It is faded in areas but it reads:
THE ENGRAVING SHOP
(619) 725 8680 (619) 758-7263 602 N. EMERALD • VISTA, CA 92083
Date18th February 1997ProvenanceThe 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit is a Marine Expeditionary Units used by the US Marine Corps. It is a Marine Air Ground Task Force and was formed on 13 April 1979. Originally the unit was designated 17th Marine Amphibious Unit (MAU) but was redesignated to the 11th MAU on 20 July 1984 and finally on 5 February 1988 the unit was given its current name, the 11th MEU. Because the 11th MEU get deployed with different ships over time it is not possible to confirm which visit this plaque was gifted; there is have been at least 7 visits from 4 different ships that were deployed with the 11th MEU at the time of their visit, although two of these visits occurred before the name of the unit had been changed to 11th MEU. The five visits to Fremantle the 11th MEU took under its current designation were:
12-14 October, 19-26 October 1992 on the USS Tarawa (LHA-1). They were deployed with the USS Tarawa from May-November 1992. The Commanding Officer of the 11th MEU at this time was Colonel Michael Hagee, who served as CO from 28 January 1992 – 29 March 1993.
June 1994 (date of arrival is unclear, estimated date of arrival was 16 June) on the USS Peleliu (LHA-5). They were deployed with the USS Peleliu from January-July 1994. The Commanding Officer of the 11th MEU at this time was Colonel William C. McMullen III, who served as CO from 29 March 1993 – 9 September 1994.
20-25 November 1995 on the USS New Orleans (LPH-11). They were deployed with the USS New Orleans from June-December 1995. The Commanding Officer at this time was
Colonel Robert B. Blose Jr., who served as the CO from 10 September 1994 – 9 May 1997.
18-23 February 1997 on the USS Essex (LHD-2). They were deployed with the USS Essex from October 1996-April 1997 after recently being deployed with the ship from May-June 1996. Colonel Robert. B Blose Jr. was still the Commanding Officer during this visit.
2-5 May 2008 on the USS Tarawa (LHA-1) once again. They were deployed with the USS Tarawa this time from November 2007 – June 2008. The Commanding Officer at this time was Colonel John W. Bullard Jr., who served as CO from 11 May 2005 – 26 June 2008.
There were four different mayors of the City of Fremantle over the course of this time period. For the first two visits, the mayor was John Cattalini, who held office from 1984-1994. The mayor during the 11th MEU’s third visit was Jenny Archibald, who held office from 1994-1996. The mayor during their fourth visit was Richard Utting, who held office from 1997-2001. The mayor during their fifth visit was Peter Tagliaferri, who held office from 2001-2009.
Verifying visits:
1992 - USS Tarawa (LHA 1) WestPac Cruise Book 1992 - https://www.navysite.de/cruisebooks/lha1-92/index.html
11th MEU on board USS Tarawa verified in Naval Institute Proceedings magazine, May 1993 editions - https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/1993/may
1994 – USS Peleliu (LHA 5) WestPac and Indian Ocean Cruise Book 1994 – https://www.navysite.de/cruisebooks/lha5-94/index.html (11th MEU included in embarked units section)
1995 – Liberty Call: Bonds of Friends and Allies Visits of the United States Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Military Sealift Command to Western Australia 1975-2002 by Ian Johnson p. 164.
Marine Corps operational summary of September 1995 showing 11th MEU deployed with USS New Orleans – https://www.usmcu.edu/Portals/218/HD/Status%20of%20Forces/1986-2000/September%201995.pdf?ver=2019-03-27-093852-953×tamp=1553778400085
1997 – Marine Corps weekly operational summary - 17-21 Feb 97 – https://www.usmcu.edu/Portals/218/HD/Status%20of%20Forces/1986-2000/17-21%20February%201997.pdf?ver=2019-03-27-092650-357×tamp=1553779600299
2008 – Defence: Visiting Naval Vessels from 1 March 2007 to 30 June 2008 – Parliament of Australia Media – System Id – chamber/hansardr/2008-08-26/0132 – Source: House of Reps – https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/chamber/hansardr/2008-08-26/toc_pdf/6079-2.pdf
MARINES, SAILORS RAMP-UP COMPETITION ABOARD TARAWA states 11th MEU deployed with USS Tarawa – https://www.11thmeu.marines.mil/News/News-Article-Display/Article/533512/marines-sailors-ramp-up-competition-aboard-tarawa/Relevance to the CityShows the long term relationship between Fremantle and the US Navy. Colonel RB Blose Jnr of the US Marine Corps/11th MEU presented the plaque to the MayorMakerThe Engraving ShopPlace MadeVista California
This plaque has a wooden base and has the badge used by the 11th MEU etched into it. It features an 11 in the background with an anchor in front of it. In front of the anchor is a small globe with wings coming out and a bald eagle on top of the globe. Below the globe is an assault rifle. Below this there is “11th MEU” written. There is a brass inscription at the bottom of the plaque and it reads:
IN GRATEFUL APPRECIATION
THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT
11TH MEU SOC
The back of the plaque has a gold-coloured sticker from the manufacturer of the plaque. It is faded in areas but it reads:
THE ENGRAVING SHOP
(619) 725 8680 (619) 758-7263 602 N. EMERALD • VISTA, CA 92083
Date18th February 1997ProvenanceThe 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit is a Marine Expeditionary Units used by the US Marine Corps. It is a Marine Air Ground Task Force and was formed on 13 April 1979. Originally the unit was designated 17th Marine Amphibious Unit (MAU) but was redesignated to the 11th MAU on 20 July 1984 and finally on 5 February 1988 the unit was given its current name, the 11th MEU. Because the 11th MEU get deployed with different ships over time it is not possible to confirm which visit this plaque was gifted; there is have been at least 7 visits from 4 different ships that were deployed with the 11th MEU at the time of their visit, although two of these visits occurred before the name of the unit had been changed to 11th MEU. The five visits to Fremantle the 11th MEU took under its current designation were:
12-14 October, 19-26 October 1992 on the USS Tarawa (LHA-1). They were deployed with the USS Tarawa from May-November 1992. The Commanding Officer of the 11th MEU at this time was Colonel Michael Hagee, who served as CO from 28 January 1992 – 29 March 1993.
June 1994 (date of arrival is unclear, estimated date of arrival was 16 June) on the USS Peleliu (LHA-5). They were deployed with the USS Peleliu from January-July 1994. The Commanding Officer of the 11th MEU at this time was Colonel William C. McMullen III, who served as CO from 29 March 1993 – 9 September 1994.
20-25 November 1995 on the USS New Orleans (LPH-11). They were deployed with the USS New Orleans from June-December 1995. The Commanding Officer at this time was
Colonel Robert B. Blose Jr., who served as the CO from 10 September 1994 – 9 May 1997.
18-23 February 1997 on the USS Essex (LHD-2). They were deployed with the USS Essex from October 1996-April 1997 after recently being deployed with the ship from May-June 1996. Colonel Robert. B Blose Jr. was still the Commanding Officer during this visit.
2-5 May 2008 on the USS Tarawa (LHA-1) once again. They were deployed with the USS Tarawa this time from November 2007 – June 2008. The Commanding Officer at this time was Colonel John W. Bullard Jr., who served as CO from 11 May 2005 – 26 June 2008.
There were four different mayors of the City of Fremantle over the course of this time period. For the first two visits, the mayor was John Cattalini, who held office from 1984-1994. The mayor during the 11th MEU’s third visit was Jenny Archibald, who held office from 1994-1996. The mayor during their fourth visit was Richard Utting, who held office from 1997-2001. The mayor during their fifth visit was Peter Tagliaferri, who held office from 2001-2009.
Verifying visits:
1992 - USS Tarawa (LHA 1) WestPac Cruise Book 1992 - https://www.navysite.de/cruisebooks/lha1-92/index.html
11th MEU on board USS Tarawa verified in Naval Institute Proceedings magazine, May 1993 editions - https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/1993/may
1994 – USS Peleliu (LHA 5) WestPac and Indian Ocean Cruise Book 1994 – https://www.navysite.de/cruisebooks/lha5-94/index.html (11th MEU included in embarked units section)
1995 – Liberty Call: Bonds of Friends and Allies Visits of the United States Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Military Sealift Command to Western Australia 1975-2002 by Ian Johnson p. 164.
Marine Corps operational summary of September 1995 showing 11th MEU deployed with USS New Orleans – https://www.usmcu.edu/Portals/218/HD/Status%20of%20Forces/1986-2000/September%201995.pdf?ver=2019-03-27-093852-953×tamp=1553778400085
1997 – Marine Corps weekly operational summary - 17-21 Feb 97 – https://www.usmcu.edu/Portals/218/HD/Status%20of%20Forces/1986-2000/17-21%20February%201997.pdf?ver=2019-03-27-092650-357×tamp=1553779600299
2008 – Defence: Visiting Naval Vessels from 1 March 2007 to 30 June 2008 – Parliament of Australia Media – System Id – chamber/hansardr/2008-08-26/0132 – Source: House of Reps – https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/chamber/hansardr/2008-08-26/toc_pdf/6079-2.pdf
MARINES, SAILORS RAMP-UP COMPETITION ABOARD TARAWA states 11th MEU deployed with USS Tarawa – https://www.11thmeu.marines.mil/News/News-Article-Display/Article/533512/marines-sailors-ramp-up-competition-aboard-tarawa/Relevance to the CityShows the long term relationship between Fremantle and the US Navy. Colonel RB Blose Jnr of the US Marine Corps/11th MEU presented the plaque to the MayorMakerThe Engraving ShopPlace MadeVista California
RELATED
SubjectUnited States NavyCollectionCivic Collection
INTERNAL
LocationCivic Collection
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US Navy - 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (18th February 1997). City of Fremantle Local History Centre, accessed 14/06/2026, https://history.fremantle.wa.gov.au/nodes/view/45244