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Service Members Deliver Supplies to Puskesmas Mangaran

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS120607-28
6/7/2012

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Laurie Dexter, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West

PUSKESMAS MANGARAN, Indonesia (NNS) -- An MH-60S Seahawk assigned to the Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) delivered medical and dental supplies to Indonesia June 4.

A local elder greeted service members upon arrival with open arms and a blessing.

Master-at-Arms Seaman Ian Miller said he was taken aback by the welcome. "Everyone was smiling and came out to greet us and shake our hands," he said.

After the initial greeting, Miller and the rest of the team started loading supplies into trucks with the help of local residents.

"What's great about this mission is that this is the first interaction the locals will have with Americans and our partner nations," said Lt. Johnathan Ward, an advanced medical planner on Mercy.

"It's great to be able to do good things with them in this sort of venue," Ward said. "If a disaster were to ever occur here, we could come back and they'd be waiting with arms open and there would be no hesitation."

Local residents also showed their appreciation by taking photographs with the service members.

The team moved approximately 14,000 pounds of medical, dental and life support gear to the medical civic assistance program site.

According to Ward, before they begin delivering the supplies, certain planning had to take place.

"In the helicopter's landing zone the pilots rely on us to make sure everything is clear," he said. "This includes making sure they have enough space and there aren't any obstacles or obstructions in the way."

Planning was also critical for the helicopter pilots, who must safely navigate around small boats in the channel and residential buildings.

"We want to fly over unpopulated areas in the off-chance that the cargo becomes unattached," said Lt. j.g. Coy Harrell, naval aviator of squadron HSC-21 Blackjacks.

"We would not want it to accidentally fall and hit anyone."

This delivery was one of many as part of Pacific Partnership 2012.

Now in its seventh year, Pacific Partnership is an annual U.S. Pacific Fleet humanitarian and civic assistance mission U.S. military personnel, host and partner nations, non-governmental organizations and international agencies designed to build stronger relationships and develop disaster response capabilities throughout the Asia-Pacific region.