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Boxer, Seabees Begin Work on Second Guatemalan School

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080512-16
Release Date: 5/12/2008 1:15:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW/AW) Jessica R. Vargas, USS Boxer Public Affairs

ALDEA EL HIGUERAL, Guatemala (NNS) -- Seabees from Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit (CBMU) 303 and Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 5, embarked aboard USS Boxer (LHD 4), began construction and repair work to the Aldea Higueral school house, May 9, as part of Continuing Promise (CP) 2008.

The CP deployment is an equal partnership mission that encourages the establishment of new bonds of friendship between and among partner nations.

The two Seabee units worked hand-in-hand with the Corps of Engineers for the Guatemalan Army to complete several construction and repair projects to the school including installing new doors and windows, repairing the roof, adding screening to help alleviate irritation from insects and constructing desks and chairs for the students.

"This is what we do and we are good at it," said Chief Builder (SCW) Thomas Wiley, attached to NMCB 5. "With the help of the Guatemalans and their skills and specialties we've made a great team."

During the course of the first day, the members of the two partner nations quickly struck up camaraderie as they began tackling the task at hand. Translators were at the construction site to help overcome the language barrier, but the workers quickly improvised their own method of communication to speed the progress along. The use of hand signals was commonly seen between the workers as they worked late into the day.

"This is a beautiful friendship and experience," said Sergeant 2nd Class Hermenegildo Cuxun, Guatemalan army. "Not only are we working together to do something good, but we are learning a lot from our American counterparts' different and new ways to do things. Language has not been a barrier in this partnership."

The goal of the renovations is to provide a safe environment for the children of the area that contributes to their education.

"I'm excited to see the look on the student's faces when they walk into the new school house for the first time," said Rigoberto Gonzalez De Leon, the owner of the Aldea Higueral School. "The work being done here by our two countries will definitely have a lasting effect on the community and help provide our children with a better education."

The Seabees work at the project is scheduled to continue until May 14.

For more news from USS Boxer, visit www.navy.mil/local/lhd4/.