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CTF 76-led Build Project Reaches Completion for Cobra Gold 06

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060526-34
Release Date: 5/26/2006 2:38:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Adam R. Cole, Task Force 76 Public Affairs

RAYONG, Kingdom of Thailand (NNS) -- An opening ceremony was held for a pavilion at a local medical clinic built by a combined U.S.-Thai civic assistance effort in Rayong, Kingdom of Thailand, as part of Cobra Gold 2006, May 23.

U.S. Navy Seabees, both active and reserve, worked with Royal Thai navy (RTN) sailors and several members of the local community to bring the pavilion to life, which will now host a range of activities for the seven villages that surround the Ban Yai Da Medical Clinic, which serves nearly 6,000 residents of the local municipality of Ta-pong.

“This pavilion stands as a symbol of unity of the U.S.-Thai people,” said Rear Adm. Victor G. Guillory, commander, Amphibious Force, U.S. 7th Fleet and the deputy commander of the Combined Naval Force (CNAVFOR) during the exercise, at the ribbon cutting. “The amazing result we now see is the product of you, the community, as you gave your time and your energy to see this through.”

Guillory was joined by Rear Adm. Boonchai Marinpong, commander, Amphibious Squadron, Royal Thai Navy (RTN) and commander of the CNAVFOR for the exercise.

After the ribbon cutting, a special celebration was held at the site, marked first by a ceremonial purification prayer conducted by Buddhist monks. The villagers then ate traditional Thai cuisine and shared it with their U.S. friends.

Smiles were abundant at the event. “We are very happy. This will be well utilized by the people of Ban Yai Da,” said Chinda Kaekla, a village leader in Ban Yai Da. “It is a perfect central place for our activities and gives a place to meet that we did not have before.”

Besides being a meeting and recreation place for residents of the village, the pavilion will be used 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.

The Navy Seabees were composed of five members from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 15, based in St. Louis, the reserve detachment of Commander, Amphibious Group (CPG) 1 and also two members from NMCB 4. The Seabees operated under Commander, Task Force (CTF) 76 for the exercise. Lt. Cmdr. Dana Partridge, also a reservist out of the St. Louis detachment, led the project.

The project was completed in less than a month, throughout May, an extremely condensed time frame for the amount of work accomplished. Seabees of both countries credit the teamwork and hard work of each person’s counterpart as the key to success of the project.

“It feels good to get all the work completed,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Navin Pachdy, a Royal Thai sailor. “The U.S. Navy helped so much and the Seabees were so friendly. We were glad to do project with them.”

U.S. Navy Seabees shared similar thoughts on the rewarding experience.

“This is great to see the completed project like this, especially in such a short amount of time,” said Construction Electrician 2nd Class Marlon Romero, of NMCB 4. “We really enjoyed working with the Thai sailors.”

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.