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USS Farragut Delivers Support for Partnership of Americas

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080407-12
Release Date: 4/7/2008 5:11:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW) Holly Boynton, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command Public Affairs

MAYPORT, Fla. (NNS) -- USS Farragut (DDG 99) onloaded eight pallets of Project Handclasp supplies April 3 for donation to several Latin American partner nations during the ship's deployment for Partnership of the Americas (POA) 2008.

POA is an annual U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) operation under the operational control of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (NAVSO), SOUTHCOM's Naval component command. POA focuses on interoperability and theater security cooperation events, at sea and on shore. U.S. maritime forces work jointly with partner nation governmental forces throughout the Caribbean, and Central and South America to develop the relationships needed to ensure maritime security in the region.

Project Handclasp donations, such as the pallets of toys and medical and hygiene supplies Farragut is carrying, are part of POA 2008, promoting goodwill in the region.

"Over the last several years, Project Handclasp has become a more prominent part of our mission as we visit and work with our partner nations," said Cmdr. Lewis Preddy, NAVSO Project Handclasp coordinator. "Officers and Sailors onboard deploying ships are loading up with as much of the donated material as they can carry, knowing that during these visits, they can help people who are truly in need."

Project Handclasp is a Navy sponsored program which collects and distributes a variety of items donated by companies, groups, and individuals. The donations are then transported world-wide by military vessels to regions in need. For the SOUTHCOM area of focus, Project Handclasp supplies are stored at Naval Station Mayport. When ships such as Farragut deploy to the region, they take with them as many pallets as they can to distribute the items to the various places they visit, including Chile, Panama, Peru, and many other partner nations.

For POA 2008, Farragut, homeported at Naval Station Mayport, will join Carrier Strike Group 8, USS George Washington (CVN 73), Carrier Air Wing 17, USS Kauffman (FFG 59) out of Norfolk; and Destroyer Squadron 40, also based in Mayport. USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98), based in Norfolk, will join up later in the deployment, which is scheduled to last six months.

For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/cusns/.