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Blue Ridge Provides Assistance, Spreads Goodwill in Cebu

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070216-18
Release Date: 2/16/2007 1:35:00 PM

By USS Blue Ridge Public Affairs

CEBU, Philippines (NNS) -- USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) Sailors, embarked U.S. 7th Fleet staff members, Marines, as well as Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 3 joined forces during their three-day port visit in Cebu from Feb. 11-14 to spread humanitarian relief throughout the community.

While in Cebu, select members of the Blue Ridge crew had the opportunity to turn their Navy training and firefighting potential into a performance of courage and teamwork.

Blue Ridge responded to a request from local authorities to assist in combating a fire that had broken out on board the super ferry Manila Bay I on Feb. 12. The Philippine merchant vessel had been undergoing repairs while in port when welding produced an intense fire that ripped through the ship’s bridge and continued to burn two decks down and spread aft.

Local authorities tried to control the fire, but a reflash sent the fire out of control. A call was made to the Blue Ridge for help, and the ship sent its rescue and assistance team to assist. Sending fire fighting, de-watering, and de-smoking equipment across the harbor, the 15-man firefighting team was able to control the blaze by overhauling the affected areas and de-watering the ship, which had begun to list because of the weight of the water used to fight the fire.

“Some of the gear the crew was using on board was damaged, or degraded at best,” said Senior Chief Damage Controlman (SW) Leif Lairson of Blue Ridge Rescue and Assistance Team. “So, a lot of our gear was in better shape and we were able to help the effort significantly.”

Local authorities and crew members of the ship were thankful for the Blue Ridge’s quick response, assistance and professionalism.

“We had a little fire this morning on board the ship that went out of control,” said a senior member of the bridge crew aboard Manila Bay I. “The Navy came in and saved the day.”

The short time in port yielded other displays of goodwill on the part of Blue Ridge crew members. The ship’s medical staff was joined by 7th Fleet Sailors, Fleet Marine Corps personnel and even hospital corpsmen from U.S. Naval Hospital Yokosuka, Japan, to provide medical care and counseling to nearly 700 local residents.

The participants of the medical capabilities (MEDCAP) community service project provided adult and pediatric care like free health screenings and patient health education, and basic dental procedures. An estimated $3,200 of medical inventory, including cough suppressants, skin ointments, vitamins and other medicines, were handed out to local residents.

“My staff and I are happy to be here,” said Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman (SW/AW) Patrick Thrift. “We are offering to patients a generic sick-call, somewhat like what we provide to our Sailors on Blue Ridge.”

The team of Navy corpsmen on scene worked side-by-side with Filipino medical assistants, including expertise from Cebu City’s Department of Public Health and volunteers from Camp Lapu–Lapu Station Hospital.

“This is my first opportunity to work with U.S. military,” said nurse supervisor Jomas Osemeña, from the local Department of Public Health. “We have medical missions similar to [theirs], coordinating with other agencies to provide help for the community. I hope this will continue so that our patients will benefit from future campaigns.”

Sailors, Seabees and Marines also joined forces with Philippine sailors to clean, paint, and beautify both Lo-Ok Elementary and High Schools as part of another friendship-building project.

Sailors were greeted with enthusiasm by both students and faculty at the separate two-day events. The 665 students from Lo-Ok Elementary and 464 from Lo-Ok High School spent time in between their day’s classes playing, dancing and asking for Sailor’s autographs.

The work accomplished over the two-day project included interior and exterior painting of classrooms, replacing windows, minor electrical work and patching ceilings and overhangs.

Aerographer’s Mate 1st Class (SW) Tyler Mello spent time changing light bulbs and starters in classrooms at Lo-Ok Elementary and was pleased with the work accomplished by the Blue Ridge and Philippine Navy team.

“I think that we’ve made it a lot easier for these kids to come to school and learn each and every day,” Mello said. “I hope that the kids seeing the Navy here lets them know that there are people who care about them and care about their school and education.”

The faculty and staff of both schools expressed their appreciation and happiness for the help provided by Blue Ridge and the Philippine sailors.

“This has been a great success,” said Ernesto Peteluna, principal of Lo-Ok High School. “I would like to thank the Philippine and United States Navies for their great help with the repair and painting in the schools. It means very much to me, the teachers and especially the students.”

The staff and student body from Canjulao Elementary School were also recipients of the labor efforts provided by the Blue Ridge/C7F team. The visiting Sailors and Marines applied fresh paint to several of the buildings, fixed a leaking roof, and erected basketball hoops and backboards.

“We did a lot of painting and cleaning, and we installed some sports equipment,” said Information Systems Technician 2nd Class (SW) Rachael Jackson. “I’m always going to remember how happy everyone was to see us. We had a lot of fun with the kids and they really liked us.”

Thanks to an aggressive approach to the task at hand, there was also plenty of time to interact with the students and teachers.

“I had a wonderful time playing with the children and helping to paint,” said Operations Specialist 2nd Class Laura Mathieu. “Their hospitality was amazing! They cooked lunch for us and made us feel completely at home.”

“I think the students and teachers will remember that we came to help them and that the U.S. is always there for its friends,” Jackson said. “I had a lot of fun and I would recommend to every Sailor to participate in community service projects whenever they get the chance.”

Blue Ridge is commanded by Capt. Jeff Bartkoski and serves under commander, Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 7/Task Force (CTF) 76, the Navy’s only forward-deployed amphibious force. Blue Ridge is the flagship for commander, U.S. 7th Fleet. Task Force 76 is headquartered at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan, with an operating detachment in Sasebo, Japan.