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Boxer Dental Team Aids Turkish Shipmates During Counterpiracy Ops

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090327-15
Release Date: 3/27/2009 2:38:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jeff Hopkins, CTF 151 Public Affairs

GULF OF ADEN (NNS) -- USS Boxer's (LHD 4) dental team provided care to its Turkish allies from Combined Task Force 151 March 13.

Boxer, the only dental-capable ship in the task force, provided critical dental care to two Sailors from TCG Giresun, one of the Turkish Navy's G-class frigates.

Lt. Christopher Henninger, DMD, Boxer's dental officer, said the dental problems the Sailors had ranged from moderate to emergent and could have potentially required medical evacuation had Boxer's facilities not been available.

"One of the Sailors merely needed a filling for a chipped tooth," Henninger said, "but the other needed two root canals, it was causing him quite a bit of pain."

Henninger said offering aid to foreign allies allows Boxer to promote goodwill at an international level.

"We talk a lot about teamwork on Boxer in our joint efforts with the Marines," said Henninger. "Situations like these allow us to promote that same teamwork on a grander scale, to reach out to our shipmates and others to provide much-needed services to keep them in the fight."

Turkish Navy Lt. Mohan Murat, Giresun's medical diving officer, accompanied the Sailors and served as translator between the Sailors and Boxer personnel. Murat said the visit also provided opportunities for the two ships to work more closely together in the coming months.

"In addition to translating, I wanted to see Boxer's medical capabilities and offer our own, in particular our hyperbaric chamber," said Murat. "The entire crew has been very welcoming, and we are honored to be here."

USS Boxer (LHD 4) is the flagship for Combined Task Force 151, a multinational task force conducting counterpiracy operations to detect and deter piracy in and around the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and Red Sea. CTF 151 was established to create lawful maritime order and develop security in the maritime environment.

For more news from USS Boxer (LHD 4), visit www.navy.mil/local/lhd4/.