Named for the legendary 1918 Marine battle in France, the Belleau Wood served in the Pacific Fleet from 1978 until her decommissioning in 2005. She deployed repeatedly to the Western Pacific and Persian Gulf, always carrying Marines ready to meet any threat. In 1991, she supported operations in the Persian Gulf as an integral part of the amphibious force that helped liberate Kuwait. The name Belleau Wood has always meant fighting spirit.