Seaman Joan Clarice Santiago reports air contacts. U.S. Navy Seaman Joan Clarice Santiago reports air contacts while serving as forward lookout aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) underway in the South China Sea on Feb. 4, 2009. The Essex is the lead ship of the only forward-deployed U.S. Expeditionary Strike Group and the flagship of Command Task Force 76. SHARE: Download: Full Size (0.05 MB) Credit: VIRIN: 415731-Z-KZS54-586.jpg Photo Gallery