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USS Curtis Wilbur Sailors Return to Hong Kong

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060223-06
Release Date: 2/23/2006 12:46:00 PM

From USS Curtis Wilbur Public Affairs

HONG KONG (NNS) -- During their scheduled port visit to Hong Kong Feb. 14, 12 USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54) Sailors returned to one of their favorite places to spend the day.

Curtis Wilbur Sailors first visited Saint Barnabas' Society and Home in 2005 for a community service project. Saint Barnabas' provides local homeless and poor an opportunity to get back on their feet by acting as a temporary residence, providing food and other daily essentials and helping find employment for those who reside there.

Saint Barnabas' depends on volunteers for maintenance and renovation projects and has come to count on Curtis Wilbur whenever the ship visits Hong Kong.

Chief Master-at-Arms (SW) Detrick Jones coordinated and participated in the community service project, something he has done in nearly every port that Curtis Wilbur has visited during his three years aboard.

“A port visit just isn’t the same without a [community service project] to show the local community what U.S. Navy Sailors are all about,” said Jones.

For nearly five hours, Sailors removed old and chipping paint and applied fresh coats. The Sailors also managed to complete a few other smaller projects around the shelter.

Ensign Lenteisa Hill was one of the volunteers. “I really enjoyed the fact that we made a difference in the appearance of the homeless center,” she said. "It made it a happier environment." Hill added that volunteering is a priority for her, both while in the U.S. and overseas.

The executive director of Saint Barnabas', Max Wong, expressed his “heartiest gratitude” in a letter to the command. “[Curtis Wilbur’s] help for the homeless and poor, and the work [on Saint Barnabas' Society and Home] is deeply appreciated.”

Another of the volunteers, Fire Controlman 1st Class (SW) Jonathan Scott, was grateful for the chance to get out and improve the local community.

“I have always had a volunteer spirit,” he said. "Idle time is easy to come by in a port visit like that. This is something I was proud of.”

Curtis Wilbur is assigned to Destroyer Squadron 15 and operates out of Yokosuka, Japan.