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Two Militaries Build Together in Papua New Guinea

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080814-19
Release Date: 8/14/2008 7:14:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Mark Logico

USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) Public Affairs

POPONDETTA, Papua New Guinea (NNS) -- U.S. Navy Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 133 from Gulfport Miss. and soldiers from Papua New Guinea (PNG) Defence Force Engineering Battalion were recognized Aug. 13 for completing five construction projects in the remote Oro Province of Papua New Guinea.

More than a hundred miles northwest of the capital, Port Moresby, the two militaries worked side by side to build two health clinics, construct a double classroom building and upgrade two water systems from July 9 to Aug 12 as part of Pacific Partnership 2008. Their work will impact more than 19,000 people.

The Pacific Partnership 2008 Mission Commander, Capt. William Kearns arrived in Popondetta Aug. 13 for the ribbon cutting ceremony to recognize the completion of the five engineering projects.

"Our engineers have worked side by side for over 30 days to work on clinics and schools, things that are important to any community," said Kearns. "While they have been here, they have become friends inside your community."

In Nov. 2007, Cyclone Guba hit Popondetta and damaged schools and medical facilities in the area. As a result, the Popondetta General Hospital became severely overcrowded.

Provincial Government member Peter Bogembo said the hospital sees more than 600 patients a day. He said the two new clinics will help spread the patient load.

Bogembo also said school buildings were destroyed displacing hundreds of children.

"When the disaster came, we needed proper shelters for our children to continue their education programs," said Bogembo. "We want to thank all the United States personnel and PNG soldiers who finished this project so that our children can continue their education and add values to their lives."

Pacific Partnership is a humanitarian civic assistance mission that is aimed to build friendships between host and partner nations. Pacific Partnership is composed of several different medical, dental and engineering civic action programs, but while most of the programs are based off the Naval hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) the 20 Seabees in Popondetta have been flying to their missions as a separate independent unit.

"When we got here [in Popondetta], these crews worked long days and often times, through difficult obstacles where it was very easy to forget why we were here," said Officer in Charge of the Seabees Lt. Amy Yoon, referring to her team and the PNG Defence Force Engineering Battalion. "However it was the faces of the children and their smiles that reminded us the kind of impact that we could have in this country."

Yoon has worked with her team since they were first deployed to Samar, Philippines in June. After PNG, the same team is scheduled to fly off to Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia, as they continue their Pacific Partnership 2008 deployment.

For more news from Pacific Partnership 2008, visit www.navy.mil/local/PP08/.