Operation Shining Express

Operation Shining Express was the June 2003 deployment of an American Joint Task Force task, consisting of the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD-3), the 3rd Battalion 2nd Marines (3/2), and a detachment of HH-60G helicopters and Pararescuemen from the 56th Rescue Squadron^[1][2] to evacuate U.S. embassy personnel and American citizens during the Second Liberian Civil War. The deployment was announced on June 12, 2003 and lasted until July 2003.

Operation Shining Express
Part of Second Liberian Civil War
A U.S. military special operations security team member observes a United Nations helicopter approaching the American embassy in Monrovia in June 2003
Location	Monrovia, Liberia
Objective	Evacuation of Americans from Liberia
Date	June 2003 – July 2003

It followed the successful 1990 rescue effort in Liberia, Operation Sharp Edge.

Notable Participants

• Robert J. O'Neill (U.S. Navy SEAL)