A Landing Craft Air Cushion prepares to enter the well deck of the USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44) as the ship lies at anchor in the Gulf of Izmit off the coast of Turkey on Aug. 29, 1999. The Kearsarge Amphibious Readiness Group and the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit are in Turkey to aid victims of the recent earthquake as part of Operation Avid Response. Avid Response is the U.S. military contribution to relief efforts following the earthquake that hit Western Turkey in the early morning hours of Aug. 17, 1999. The landing craft, more commonly called an LCAC, is shuttling vehicles and supplies for use by Marines and sailors ashore at Hersek, Turkey.