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USS Harpers Ferry To Transport Donated Ambulances to Southern Philippine Provinces

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS061020-07
Release Date: 10/20/2006 12:43:00 PM

By Marine Lance Cpl. David Rogers, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit Public Affairs

SUBIC BAY, Philippines (NNS) -- USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) will be transporting five ambulances, loaded aboard Oct. 18, from Subic Bay Freeport to the southern island of Zamboanga in the Republic of the Philippines as a boost to medical care in communities there.

The ambulances were provided by 3P (Promotion of Peace and Prosperity in the Philippines) USA Foundation, a Seattle-based non-governmental agency which purchased 14 Ford F350 ambulances to donate to places throughout the Philippines in an effort to bring better medical supplies and capabilities to local provinces.

The ambulances loaded here at the start of Amphibious Landing Exercise (PHIBLEX)/Talon Vision 07 are a portion of the 14 ambulances that will be distributed to the southern provinces of Zamboanga, Jolo and Tawi Tawi in coordination with the Joint Special Operations Task Force - Philippines and the U.S. Embassy, Manila.

"We're really grateful that we have the opportunity and the lift capabilities to do this for the people of the Philippines," said Cmdr. Marlin C. Anthony, commanding officer of Harpers Ferry. “The U.S. Navy aims to be an active community member anywhere in the world.”

The ambulance transport demonstrates the amphibious capability to move personnel or cargo from ship to shore, or from shore to ship to shore in this case.

The ambulances will be given to their respective recipients during official turnover ceremonies later this year.

Armando De Rossi, a co-founder of 3P Foundation, feels that once the ambulances are delivered to their final destinations, they will save plenty of lives.

"We're just here to promote the goodwill of America to the Filipino people, and to show the Filipinos that the United States cares," said Rossi.

Harpers Ferry is the Navy’s only forward-deployed amphibious assault ship and is the flagship for the Sasebo, Japan-based Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), which serves under Commander, Task Force 76. 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.