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CTF 76-led Build Project Reaches Midpoint for Cobra Gold

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060518-07
Release Date: 5/18/2006 10:36:00 AM

By Journalist 3rd Class Adam R. Cole, Task Force 76 Public Affairs

RAYONG, Kingdom of Thailand (NNS) -- A civic assistance project to build a pavilion at a local clinic in Rayong, Kingdom of Thailand, as part of Cobra Gold 2006, reached a mid-point May 12 as U.S. Navy Seabees and Royal Thai Navy (RTN) sailors completed the foundation and the overall structural components to the project.

The project is taking place at the Ban Yai-da Medical Clinic, which serves a little more than 6,000 residents in the in the local municipality of Ta-pong. The pavilion will serve as a place for community exercise programs and senior health activities, immunizations, and community medical and dental screening, as well as a place for clinic personnel and patients to relax.

Leading the project is Lt. Cmdr. Dana Partridge, a naval flight officer attached to Commander, Amphibious Group (CPG) 1 reserve detachment in St. Louis. When not serving in active-duty status, he is a plant manager for glass manufacturer Guardian Industries Rayong, based in Rayong. Guardian has donated much of the supplies for the current project.

“As an international businessman working in Thailand, and as a drilling reserve officer, the Ban Yai-da community service project allows me to both give something back to the local community, and to contribute toward the larger interests of the United States,” said Partridge, who was an electronic countermeasures officer during his seven years of active duty.

The clinic saw major construction during Cobra Gold 2002 when the main building was erected in a similar project utilizing U.S. Navy and RTN personnel.

This year's project is the result of a partnership between the local community, an American business based in Thailand (Guardian), and the Seabees and RTN sailors. Such a full spectrum of people working for the same goal strengthens the bonds between United States and Thailand.

"This is a very good project, and we are very happy with the quality of construction being used for the project,” said a RTN sailor by the name of Thansak, who holds the Thai rank of first class petty officer builder.

U.S. Navy Seabees of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 4, serving under Commander, Task Force (CTF) 76 for the exercise, are happy they can make a difference.

“It’s a lot of fun and it makes you feel good that you can make a difference,” said Construction Electrician 2nd Class Marlon Romero with NMCB 4.

The project is set to be completed May 23 with an official opening ceremony.

"Our medical clinic serves 6,056 local people in the Ta-Pong sub-district. These people are very happy that the project has been donated and built by the Cobra Gold Team of Guardian, RTN and U.S. Navy Seabees," said Thachawan Yamklin, who is head of the Ban-Yai Da Health Center and Medical Clinic.

Task Force 76 is the Navy’s only forward-deployed amphibious force and is headquartered at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan, with an operating detachment in Sasebo, Japan.