USS Iwo Jima is the seventh Wasp-class Amphibious Assault Ship and the second ship in the Navy to bear the name. The Iwo Jima is also the Navy's third Amphibious Assault Ship designed and built from the keel up with accommodations for female sailors. She was commissioned on June 30, 2001.

May 22, 2002 LHD 7 moored to Pier 88 in New York City to kick off Fleet Week 2002. More than 6000 Sailors, Marines and Coast Guard personal aboard 22 ships sailed into New York City for the 15th annual Fleet Week. Navy ships from U.S. Atlantic Fleet as well ships from the Coast Guard, Canada and Denmark are visiting the "Big Apple" for this year's celebration.

March 4, 2003 USS Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, departed from their East Coast home ports along with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, in support of the Global War on Terrorism.

April 30, LHD 7 pulled to Souda Bay, Crete, Greece, for a scheduled four-day port visit.

During the deployment, all three ships in the ARG deployed Marines in Iraq. The ARG's support of operations in Iraq was cut short in August, when they were ordered from the gulf to Monrovia, Liberia, to support peacekeeping efforts. Once there, the 26th MEU provided a stabilizing presence, which allowed multinational forces from other western African countries to come in and handle the problem so humanitarian operations could be conducted. Elements of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit began to land in Monrovia on August 14. This was a Quick Reaction Force, comprised of Marines from the 1st Battalion, 8th marines. These are the first of some 200 Marines that are to operate in Liberia.

October 24, USS Iwo Jima returned from a seven-and-a-half month deployment is support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and in support of humanitarian crisis in Liberia.

January 12, 2004 The amphibious assault ship arrived at Naval Weapons Station Earle, N.J. to complete ammunition off-loads.

May 26, LHD 7 pulled to New York City for 17th annual Fleet Week.

Jun 26, 2004 Iwo Jima is currently conducting flight deck developmental testing in the Atlantic Ocean.

December 10, The amphibious ship departed Port Everglades, Fla., after a scheduled port visit.

January 15, 2005 LHD 7 returned to home port from from a five-day underway period in the Atlantic Ocean, after testing the 2nd Fleet staff's distributed staff concept.

April 23, USS Iwo Jima is currently conducting training operations off the coast of Virginia.

May 19, LHD 7 is currently in Atlantic Ocean supporting a Capability Exercise with the guided missile cruiser USS Cape St. George and the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force.

July 2, The Iwo jima arrived in Portland, Maine, to kick off Independence Day celebrations hosted by city officials and the Propeller Club of the Port of Portland. She departed Portland early July 5th.

July 15, USS Iwo Jima departed Naval Station Norfolk, Va., in support of U.S. 2nd Fleet's Joint Task Force Exercise. The week-long exercise, named Operation Brewing Storm, JTFEX 05-2 serves as the deter forward-certifying event for the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (CSG), as sustainment training for the USS Harry S. Truman CSG, and as component commander certification for the United Kingdom Maritime Force (UKMARFOR) staff. More than 15,000 service members from four countries are participating in JTFEX 05-2, July 14-22.

August 18, LHD 7 departed Naval Station Norfolk for Command Assessment Readiness and Training (CART) evaluations.

August 31, USS Iwo Jima and USS Shreveport (LPD 12) departed Norfolk along with USS Tortuga (LSD 46) and the rescue and salvage ship USS Grapple (ARS 53), both based at Naval Amphibious Base (NAB) Little Creek, Va., to head to areas off the Gulf Coast as part of the Hurricane Katrina relief effort. The four ships bring with them six Disaster Relief Teams (DRTs) that include amphibious construction equipment, medical personnel and associated supplies to assist with the relief effort.

September 3, After a three-day high-speed transit down the East Coast of the United States and around into the Gulf of Mexico, LHD 7, along with various embarked air and amphibious landing assets, arrived on station in the Gulf of Mexico off Biloxi, Miss., to begin humanitarian assistance operations to the devastated region. Iwo Jima pulled to New Orleans on 5th to serve as the command and control center for Joint Task Force Katrina.

September 20, Joint Task Force Katrina ships including: USS Tortuga, USNS Comfort, USS Iwo Jima, USS Shreveport and the USS Grapple will proceed east to avoid incoming Hurricane Rita. The USNS Patuxent will remain in the Gulf of Mexico to support repositioning ships. The Comfort will move from Mississippi today, and the Iwo Jima and Shreveport from Louisiana Sept. 21. The hurricane near the Florida Keys strengthened to Category 2 today and is forecast to strengthen further as it moves westward into the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

September 26, Hurricane Rita disaster relief operations began Sept. 25 on board LHD 7 when helicopters from embarked squadrons left for the coastal regions of Louisiana to perform search and rescue (SAR) operations and flood assessment missions. The amphibious ship has been following Hurricane Rita across the Gulf of Mexico to be prepared to respond quickly after the storm made landfall. Rita went ashore early Sept. 24 as a Category 3 hurricane, and she was among the first responders in relief efforts.

October 2, The assault ship returned to homeport after more than a month of conducting relief operations in the wake of two hurricanes that devastated the Gulf Coast.

December 10, USS Iwo Jima is currently underway in Atlantic Ocean conducting routine carrier operations. On 12th she visited Naval Weapons Station Earle, NJ., to conduct an ammunitions onload.

January 15, 2006 LHD 7 is underway off the Atlantic coast conducting pre-deployment training certification in preparation for the deployment later this year.

February 19, Five ships, one submarine and nearly 3,500 Sailors and Marines from the USS Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) successfully completed their ESG Integrated Training (ESGINT) exercises, Feb. 14, while operating in Onslow Bay, N.C.

April 5, The amphibious assault ship is currently off the East Coast performing workups for its upcoming deployment.

April 14, USS Iwo Jima is currently off the Atlantic Coast participating in Expeditionary Strike Group Exercise (ESGEX).

June 6, USS Iwo Jima, commanded by Capt. Michael A. Walley, departed Naval Station Norfolk for six months to conduct maritime security operations in support of the Global War on Terrorism.

June 20, The amphibious assault ship pulled to Marseille, France, for a scheduled port visit.

June 27, LHD 7 arrived at the port town of Civitavecchia on the outskirts of Rome, Italy, after departing Marseille the day before.

July 2, Marine pilot ejected from his AV 8B Harrier, at approximately 6:50 pm (local), and was safely recovered within eight minutes after receiving minimal injuries. The pilot was preparing to land aboard the amphibious ship in the Mediterranean Sea, just north of Crete, Greece.

July 4, USS Iwo Jima Expeditonary Strike Group transited the Suez Canal to relieve USS Peleliu on her duty in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations. The ESG will conduct maritime security operations (MSO) throughout the region and support further tasking from the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).

July 18, U.S. Sailors and Marines from the LHD 7 Expeditionary Strike Group and the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit have been directed to assist in the authorized departure of American citizens from Lebanon. The U.S. Embassy in Lebanon has requested military assistance to help American citizens who wish to depart Lebanon to leave in a secure and orderly manner.

August 20, USS Iwo Jima and USS Nashville (LPD 13) transited the Suez Canal to return to Persian Gulf.

September 15, LHD 7 is currently operating in the Persian Gulf in support of maritime security operations and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

October 2, AV-8B Harriers, as part of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit Air Combat Element (ACE) presently attached to USS Iwo Jima, completed combat missions Sept. 21 in direct support of Operation Enduring Freedom, against Taliban strongholds in Afghanistan. To date, the Harriers have completed approximately 136 sorties to include 17 precision-guided munitions in support of OEF and coalition efforts.

November 8, USS Iwo Jima ESG successfully transited the Suez Canal, concluding operations in the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations (AoO). The amphibious assault ship pulled to Civitavecchia, Italy, on Nov. 12.

November 17, LHD 7 arrived in Toulon, France, for a scheduled port visit.

December 2, The Iwo Jima completed an ammunition transfer with the USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) and USS Bataan (LHD 5) off the coast of Virginia.

December 6, USS Iwo Jima returned to Norfolk after a six-month deployment.

June 11, 2007 The amphibious assault ship departed for sea trials after spending nearly four months at BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair.

September 27, LHD 7 is currently underway in the Atlantic Ocean for sea trials. This is the first time that the Iwo Jima is conducting flight deck operations with the V-22 Osprey in more than two years.

February 3, 2008 USS Iwo Jima is currently off the coast of Virginia conducting routine trainings.

March 9, 2008 The Iwo Jima ARG is currently undergoing an operational evaluation with elements of the 26th MEU off the coast of North Carolina.

April 15, The amphibious assault ship is currently in the Atlantic Ocean conducting routine trainings.

April 28, USS Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group pulled to Port Everglades, Fla., for a Fleet Week.

May 6, LHD 7 ESG is currently participating in an integration exercise off the East Coast, in preparation for the upcoming deployment later this year.

July 21, USS Iwo Jima ESG and BNS Greenhalgh (F 46) participated in a Composite Unit Training Exercise (COMPTUEX) July 8-18, marking the first time a Brazilian Navy surface unit fully integrated into a U.S. Strike Group. The Iwo Jima and Greenhalgh will now participate in the USS Theodore Roosevelt's (CVN 71) upcoming Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) 08-4 July 21-31.

August 26, USS Iwo Jima departed Naval Station Norfolk for a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Central Command Area of Responsibility (AoR).

September 21, A group of 50 senior civilian officials and 19 staff members from the Joint Civilian Orientation Conference (JCOC) visited Iwo Jima off the coast of Crete, Greece. The amphibious assault ship recently departed Haifa, Israel, after a scheduled port visit.

September 23, USS Iwo Jima ESG transited the Suez Canal and entered the 5th Fleet AoO.

October 18, LHD 7 is currently offloading elements of the 26th MEU at the Kuwait Naval Base.

December 18, The Iwo Jima recently pulled to Manama, Bahrain, for a routine port call.

January 28, 2009 The amphibious assault ship recently departed Manama after another port visit.

February 14, USS Iwo Jima arrived in Kuwait Naval Base to back-load Marines and equipment, concluding the four-month operations in the Persian Gulf. The ship transited the Suez Canal March 1.

March 4, LHD 7 pulled to Augusta Bay, Sicily, for a scheduled port visit.

March 10, The amphibious assault ship pulled to Rota, Spain, for a routine port call.

March 27, USS Iwo Jima returned to Norfolk after completing the seven-month underway period.

May 20, The Iwo Jima arrived in New York City to participate in the 22nd commemoration of Fleet Week New York City 2009.

June 12, LHD 7 returned to homeport following a visit to New York where dozens of crew members came down with the H1N1 virus. There were 49 confirmed cases of "swine flu" onboard his ship, and 16 crew members are still recovering. By date, 220 U.S. Navy Sailors have been confirmed with H1N1 influenza.

July 9, USS Iwo Jima recently arrived in the Gulf of Guinea to support the U.S. President Barack Obama's visit to Ghana July 10 and 11.

April 26, 2010 The amphibious assault ship pulled to Port Everglades to participate in the Fleet Week 2010.

May 24, USS Iwo Jima departed Norfolk Naval Station to participate in the 23rd Fleet Week New York May 26-June 2.

July 12, USS Iwo Jima departed homeport for a four-month deployment to the U.S. Naval Southern Command Area of Operations, in support of Continuing Promise.

July 17, LHD 7 pulled into Mayport Naval Station for a brief port call to onload humanitarian supplies.

July 19, The Iwo Jima arrived in Miami, Fla., for a two-day port visit.

July 24, The amphibious assault ship arrived off the coast of Port-de-Paix, Haiti, for its first CP 2010 mission. The assigned medical and engineering staff embarked aboard Iwo Jima will work with partner nation teams to provide medical, dental, veterinary and engineering assistance to seven different nations to improve mutual understanding of current medical issues and technology.

July 31, Capt. Thomas J. Chassee relieved Capt. Jeffrey Charles Amick as commanding officer of the Iwo Jima.

August 4, USS Iwo Jima pulled to Naval Station Guantanamo Bay for refueling and supplies.

August 8, LHD 7 arrived off the coast of Marine Infantry Training Base in Covenas, Columbia, as part of the Continuing Promise mission.

August 20, The Iwo Jima arrived in Limon, Costa Rica, for a 10-day port call.

September 4, The amphibious assault ship anchored in the Amatique Bay for a goodwill port visit to Guatemala until Sept. 13.

September 15, USS Iwo Jima anchored off the coast of Bluefields, Nicaragua, for its fifth mission in support of CP 2010.

September 27, LHD 7 anchored in Laguna de Chiriqui for a scheduled port visit to Panama.

October 17, The Iwo Jima anchored off the coast of New Amsterdam, Guyana, for its seventh mission in support of Continuing Promise.

October 28, The amphibious assault ship anchored off the coast of Paramaribo, Suriname, for its last humanitarian mission.

November 1, U.S. Southern Command directed the USS Iwo Jima to steam toward Haiti in preparation for the forecasted arrival of tropical storm Tomas later this week.

November 11, LHD 7 pulled into Naval Station Guantanamo Bay for an environmental wash-down on the ship's equipment.

November 18, USS Iwo Jima returned to Norfolk after a four-month underway period.

March 23, 2011 The amphibious assault ship recently returned to homeport after conducting routine operations off the East Coast.

April 13, USS Iwo Jima is currently underway in preparation for Unit Level Training Assessment Sustainment.

April 25, The Iwo Jima pulled into Port Everglades to participate in the Fleet Week 2011.

May 25, LHD 7 arrived pierside at Manhattan's Pier 88 to participate in the 24th Fleet Week New York, May 25- June 1.

August 25, USS Iwo Jima entered the Norfolk Naval Shipyard for safe haven from Hurricane Irene.

October 5, The Iwo Jima is currently underway in the Atlantic Ocean conducting routine training in preparation for the upcoming deployment early next year.

October 28, USS Iwo Jima ARG is currently participating in Amphibious Squadron 8 (PHIBRON 8)/Marine Expeditionary Unit Integration Training (PMINT), with the 24th MEU, Oct. 24-Nov. 3.

November 30, The Amphibious Ready Group recently departed Norfolk for Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX).

January 27, 2012 USS Iwo Jima ARG departed homeport for Certification Exercise (CERTEX) that was embedded into a largest joint and multinational amphibious assault exercise, in the past ten years, Bold Aligator 2012 with both the Navy and Marine Corps.