• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

USS Pearl Harbor Departs Panama

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070725-06
Release Date: 7/25/2007 1:19:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Damien Horvath, Destroyer Squadron 40 Public Affairs

BALBOA, Panama (NNS) -- USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) completed a 10-day port visit to Vasco Nunez de Balboa and departed Panama on July 20 to begin the second phase of its Partnership of the Americas (POA) 2007 deployment.

During their port visit, Sailors used the opportunity to perform a wide variety of maintenance on Pearl Harbor, participate in community relations projects and deliver Project Handclasp materials in the surrounding areas. Many of them also took the opportunity to tour Panama City and the Panama Canal while in port.

Cryptologic Technician (Maintenance) 2nd Class Thomas Niksich helped paint the interior of Pro Vida Foundation, a shelter for abandoned and abused children.

“We did a lot of work for the shelter. When the kids came back from school and saw what we had done, they were very excited,” said Niksich.

Sailors from Pearl Harbor teamed up with representatives from the U.S. Embassy in Panama to deliver pallets of Project Handclasp (a Navy sponsored humanitarian project) materials to five different distribution sites ranging from a nursing home to an orphanage.

“It was a great feeling to help the smallest infants as well as some disabled elderly people,” said Chief Personnel Specialist Edward Lopez. “That exemplified this deployment and what we are really trying to accomplish on this important mission.”

Project Handclasp receives support from donors around the United States. Contributions include supplies such as medical kits, toys, hygiene products, sewing machines, and food items. The donations were accepted by the organizations of Ofrece un Hogar (House of Offerings), Pro Vida (Beginning of Life), Nutre Hogar (House of Nutrition), Comarca Nobe Bugle Juay (Regional House for Children), Hogar Bolivar (Boliver House), and Hogar Milagro (Miracle House).

For the next two months, ships of Task Group 40.0 will be completing a series of theater security cooperation events in Central America and the Caribbean. During these activities, Sailors will work directly with partner nations in a wide variety of maritime exercises and events designed to improve interoperability and cooperation at sea.

At the end of August, the Task Group will participate in PANAMAX 2007, an exercise that simulates defending the Panama Canal from attack.

Task Group 40.0 consists of dock landing ship Pearl Harbor, guided-missile frigate USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG 58), guided-missile destroyer USS Mitscher (DDG 57), and the staff of Destroyer Squadron 40, commanded by Capt. Randy Snyder.

POA 2007 is a U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command deployment focusing on enhancing relations with partner nations through a variety of exercises and events at sea and on shore throughout South America and the Caribbean.