USS Underwood Sailors Visit Colombia in Support of 'Partnership of the Americas'
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS060415-14
Release Date: 4/15/2006 11:44:00 AM
By Journalist Seaman Charles A. Ordoqui, USS George Washington Strike Group Public Affairs
CARTAGENA, Colombia (NNS) -- USS Underwood (FFG 36) Sailors visited Cartagena, Colombia, April 10-13 to participate in community relations activities and carry out the mission of “Partnership of the Americas.”
Sailors participated in several events in Cartagena, including a community relations project at a local hospital. They also marched in a parade, participated in sporting events with the host nation, and took time to see the city of Cartagena and learn more about Columbian culture.
“It was really educational to get out and learn about how people in other countries live and for the natives to see who we Americans really are,” said Cryptologic Technician Technical 2nd Class Clayton Reyes. “It’s an honor to represent the people of my country.”
Sailors marched in Cartagena’s Annual Navy Parade, part of Indian Sail Cartagena 2006, along with 10 other naval marching units from Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, France, Panama, Mexico, Holland, Jamaica, Dominican Republic and the host country Colombia.
“It was a real honor to march and carry the flag of my country,” said Hull Technician 2nd Class Brannon Woodland. “I represented something so much larger than I can ever imagine.”
After the parade, Underwood Sailors got to meet the participants from the other countries.
“It was so awesome to get to know some of the other guys from the Colombian navy,” said Operations Specialist 3rd Class Jorge Zapata. “They seemed really glad that we were there, too, so overall it was a great experience.”
Sailors also played soccer and volleyball with members of the host country.
“We really had a lot of fun, even though we didn’t win,” said Personnel Serviceman 3rd Class Homero Segura. “It was a great opportunity to interact with them.”
Underwood Sailors also delivered medical supplies to the local hospital in Cartagena.
“This opportunity to help made the mission worthwhile because it’s a hospital in the poorest section of Cartagena,” said Cmdr. Roderick Fraser, commanding officer of Underwood.
"Partnership of the Americas" is a U.S. Southern Command-sponsored training and readiness deployment designed to strengthen regional partnerships and improve multinational interoperability.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
