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Byrd Critical to Pacific Partnership 2009

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090630-19
Release Date: 6/30/2009 5:00:00 PM

By Oyaol Ngirairikl, Joint Region Marianas Public Affairs

SANTA RITA, Guam (NNS) -- After a short stop on Guam to take on participants and supplies, USNS Richard E. Byrd (T-AKE 4) left the island June 17 to bring medical, dental and veterinary care, and engineering support to five allied island nations in the Pacific.

"This is the first time Byrd has ever been assigned to a humanitarian assistance mission such as this," said Byrd Commanding Officer, Capt. Robert H. Jaeger. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Of all the missions that a ship could be assigned, this is the most personally rewarding for each crew member."

The four-month humanitarian mission will help residents in Samoa, Tonga, the Solomon Islands, Kiribati and the Marshall Islands.

Capt. Andrew Cully, Partnership 2009 mission commander, said for the last several months, his team has worked with the governments of the host nations to ensure they are prepared to provide the care and help needed.

Various national and international programs are participating in this year's mission, including Project Hope, the Loloma Foundation, International Aid and the Shriners.

In addition, engineers from New Zealand, Australia and Canada will refurbish buildings including schools and clinics and will execute water catchment projects.
Capt. Corey Felix, a dentist with the Canadian Forces Dental Services, said several of his peers have been on previous Pacific Partnership tours and said it was a wonderful experience.

Spc. Roman Blas, a food inspector with Western Pacific District Veterinary Command, said he has been on humanitarian missions, but Pacific Partnership will be a first for him as he has never been on a mission with as much international presence and a wide scope of work.

"I'm really excited and looking forward to doing what I can to help others," said Blas.

"Pacific Partnership is a great opportunity to learn how other professionals, other nations and other branches of our own military do things," said Lt. Cmdr. David Fletcher, Western Pacific Guam, who was at the pier along with other coworkers to wish Blas farewell. "These types of coordinated efforts are extremely important because not only do they provide different services to people but they teach our different branches and different countries how to communicate effectively to complete a mission successfully."

Pacific Partnership 2009 is the fourth in a series of annual U.S. Pacific Fleet humanitarian civic assistance missions.

Personnel supporting the mission are actively contributing to the nation's Maritime Strategy efforts, which call for the security of America and its citizens, the application of seapower to ensure the protection of America's way of life, and a strengthened partnership with allies.

Pacific Partnership 2009 is a humanitarian civic assistance mission that began in 2006 and continues a working relationship between the United States government, partners in the region and non-governmental organizations.