A CH-53E Sea Stallion helicopter takes off from the flight deck of the USS Essex (LHD 2). A CH-53E Sea Stallion helicopter assigned to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 takes off from the flight deck of the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) underway in the Philippine Sea participating in joint service exercise Valiant Shield on Sept. 14, 2010. SHARE: Download: Full Size (0.04 MB) Credit: VIRIN: 139979-Y-UIR25-627.jpg Photo Gallery