Pacific Partnership 2010 to Visit Palau

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Melvin F. Orr III

Posted: July 21, 2010

KOROR, Palau – The U.S. Seventh Fleet Command Ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19), will drop anchor off the coast of the Republic of Palau on July 26, 2010 in support of Pacific Partnership 2010.
 

REPUBLIC OF PALAU (July 12, 2010) - Lt. Tom Hargrove measures the brackets for safety hand rails on the second floor of Palau High School on the island of Babeldoab, Palau. The handrails will be replaced during one of many community service projects on the islands performed in support Pacific Partnership 2010. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Josh Huebner) | Download

The fifth in a series of annual U.S. Pacific Fleet humanitarian and civic assistance endeavors, Pacific Partnership 2010 is aimed at strengthening regional relationships with host nations and partner nations. The visit will also mark the first time the a Pacific Partnership visit has come to the Micronesian island

“Pacific Partnership is a great opportunity for the crew to pass on their knowledge to the residents of Palau and allows the crew to further train themselves for humanitarian missions,” said Blue Ridge Commanding Officer Capt. Rudy Lupton. “This is also a wonderful opportunity for the crew to share in cultural exchanges in places seldom visited by service members."

Blue Ridge and Seventh Fleet medical and dental capability teams plan to visit the Belau National Hospital on Koror, the Southern Community Health Center on Peleliu, and the Angaur Medical Clinic in Angaur. The teams will provide free primary care and prescriptions to residents of Palau during the four-day visit.

“We’ll be helping people with basic oral hygiene and offer minor cleaning, as well as tooth extractions if needed,” said Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Jevon Jones. “I’m looking forward to the experience of helping out with their dental needs.”

Sailors and Marines will participate in several community service projects around the country including projects Ngchesar Elementary School, Melekeok Elementary School, Aimeliik Elementary School, Palau High School, Peleliu Elementary School, Angaur Elementary Schhol and the Bloody Nose Ridge World War II Monument to help renovate the areas.
 

The Bloody Nose Ridge Monument was erected on the island of Peleliu by the U.S. Army’s 81st Infantry Division, 323rd Regiment in memory of 1,794 Marines and Soldiers killed during the World War II Battle of Peleliu in 1944.

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Washington, homeported in Guam and commanded by Lt. Nicholas Simmons, will also visit Koror during the Pacific Partnership 2010 visit to the island to perform law enforcement training and participate in the community service projects.

Pacific Partnership 2010 is aimed at strengthening regional relationships with host and partner nations in Southeast Asia and Oceania. In the last four years, Pacific Partnership has provided a variety of medical, dental, educational and preventive medicine services to more than 150,000 patients in 10 countries. More than 70 engineering projects in more than a dozen countries have brought school refurbishment and construction of entirely new clinics to remote villages.

Blue Ridge is commanded by Capt. Rudy Lupton and serves under Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 7/Task Force (CTF) 76, the Navy’s only forward deployed amphibious force. Blue Ridge is the flagship for Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet. Task Force 76 is headquartered at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa Japan with an operations detachment in Sasebo, Japan.