USS Makin Island (LHD-8) – Off the Volcano Islands
The coxswain nestled the Mike-8 deftly up against the platform of an accommodation ladder that had been rigged amidships on the port side of the USS Makin Island, a nearly new Wasp-class amphibious assault ship. The sailor serving as the landing craft bow-hook took a turn of his line around a stanchion to keep the bobbing landing craft snugged up to the massive ship that Shake had been told displaced more than 41,000 tons. Shake stared up at the haze-gray wall of the ship’s hull and figured it was at least a half-mile climb to the quarterdeck somewhere up above. The climb was one thing but he was more concerned with the first big step from the gunwale of the rolling landing craft to the accommodation platform. It had been some time since
