Welcome Back !
The USNS Mercy is back. As part (or all) of the Pacific Partnership 2012 tour. The Mercy's last visit (which was also first visit) was in 2010.
Supporting U.S. disaster relief and humanitarian operations worldwide, the USNS Mercy hospital ship, along with it's crew of U.S. Navy and Army personnel and personnel from Australia, Canada, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Peru, and the Philippines, and a host of NGO's from throughout the land came to Cambodia, only to help.
This year, NGOs participating in Cambodia include Cambodian Children's Painting Project, Global Grins, Help for Orphans, Hope Worldwide, Latter Day Saint (LDS) Charities, M'lop Tapang, Project Handclasp, Project Hope, Reproductive Health, The Starfish Project, UCSD Pre-Dental Society, Univ. of Hawaii Engineers, Univ. of Hawaii Nursing, and World Vets.
The USNS Mercy is sooo big, that they need 3 captains to take the ship out. Capt. James Morgan, mission commander for Pacific Partnership 2012 and commander of the San Diego-based Destroyer Squadron SEVEN; Capt. Jonathan Olmsted, of the Military Sealift Command and Mercy's civil service master; and, Navy Capt. Timothy Hinman, commander of the medical treatment facility, which is responsible for the hospital and providing care aboard Mercy and on shore.
In Sometimes Sunny SihanoukVille, USNS Mercy medical team will provide free medical services including optometry, dental, pediatrics, and general medicine. Also, veterinary services for small animals.
They also found time to visit our local brewery (making the National Beer of Cambodia, "Angkor Beer") for a little R&R.
The Mercy sails with a crew of 1,200 and contains a full hospital inside the ship. They can transport medical patients to the ship by boat or helicopter, or transport medical people, supplies and equipment to where it's needed, fast!
The Mercy just arrived yesterday, July 28th, so they wanted to enjoy SihanoukVille, for a day before they got to work. And what a coincidence, we enjoyed having them here starting their first day. The Pacific Partnership Band gave a fantastic free conference on Ocheteaul Beach with music, dancing, and singing. The 12 piece brass band was the highlight of the show (and the rainshowers didn't start 'till after the band was finished). Rock On!
