USNS Mercy Completes Humanitarian Mission In Southeast Asia

SAN DIEGO (NNS) — Seventy civil service mariners, and approximately 400 Navy, Army and non-governmental organization (NGO) personnel aboard Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 20) has returned to San Diego Sept. 14.
They steamed more than 20,000 miles – nearly the distance of circling the equator – to Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia as the lead vessel for Pacific Partnership 2012 (PP12).
PP12 is a nearly five-month humanitarian and civic assistance mission that resulted in medical treatment for nearly 50,000 people. Many of the ship’s mission personnel – which total about 1,200 service members and civilians – have already returned home.
The 894-foot Mercy, one of two U.S. Navy hospital ships, is operated by the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command. MSC’s civil service mariners were responsible for Mercy’s operation and navigation.
In addition, since the ship is too large for pierside visits, mariners operated small boats to transport patients and personnel between ship and shore. Doctors and nurses from the ship’s medical treatment facility worked with medical professionals from numerous governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations and the host nations to provide medical care, including immunizations, general and specialty surgeries, dental care and vision services.
At the invitation of the host nations, PP12 brought the expertise of U.S. service members and personnel from 13 partner nation militaries and 28 NGOs to build and strengthen relationships and work together to learn how to better collectively respond to natural disasters and crisis. As part of the medical outreach effort, which took place both ashore and aboard the ship, Mercy’s team treated more than 49,000 people ashore, including dental care and services like the distribution of eyeglasses and sunglasses. The team performed more than 900 shipboard surgeries, and treated or evaluated more than 7,000 livestock and domestic animals.
In addition, the Mercy team conducted more than 60,000 hours during 62 subject-matter expert exchanges in the four countries visited on topics including first aid, nursing, cardiology, orthopedics, nutrition, disaster response, water and food safety, and public health promotion.
U.S., Australian and host-nation engineers built or refurbished 13 buildings and the crew collectively participated in more than 100 community service projects to include the delivery of 244 pallets (more than 144,000 pounds) of donated supplies requested by host nations.
Pacific Partnership 2012 is a U.S. Pacific Fleet mission led by three different element commanders: civilian Capt. Jonathan Olmsted, Mercy’s civil service master; Navy Capt. James Morgan, commander for the overall Pacific Partnership mission; and Navy Capt. Timothy Hinman, commander of the medical treatment facility responsible for providing care aboard Mercy and ashore.
“My most profound memory was watching six surgeries – all of which were performed in a 30-minute timeframe while we were anchored off the Philippines,” said Olmsted, who has overall responsibility for Mercy’s movement and the safety of its nearly 1,000 passengers. “We saw four children and two adults receive life-changing procedures including cataract transplants, tumor removals, and other corrective surgery. That’s when it really hit me why PP12 is so important.”
Supply utilityman Carmelita Kawasaki said that the mission’s success is evident from the facial expressions of those receiving help. Kawasaki noticed this especially while volunteering her sleep hours to work at a public elementary school in Indonesia. “You can feel the gratitude and happiness in their hearts, and sense that we are very welcome in their place,” she said.
Engine utilityman Darlene Mertz, who works in Mercy’s vast, engineering spaces, cites a memory from Vietnam as her favorite from the trip.
“I was walking down a ship’s passageway after a long and hot eight-hour watch in the engine room when I ran into a group of patients,” said Mertz. “An elderly woman stopped me and asked, via her translator, what I do on the ship. I told her I work in the engine room keeping the boilers on so we have steam for the ship’s propulsion and power for the hospital. She looked at me and said, ‘thank you for being here.’”
Military Sealift Command operates approximately 110 noncombatant, civilian-crewed ships that replenish U.S. Navy ships, conduct specialized missions, strategically preposition combat cargo at sea around the world and move military equipment and supplies used by deployed U.S. forces.

http://subicbaynews.net/?p=2912
The best getaway destination vacation spot near Manila convenient safe and accessible is Clearwater Beach Resort in Clark Pampanga.

Event organizers and companies in Manila travel out of town to the north to hold their team building events and company outings in a good resort in Pampanga. Clearwater Resort located in Clark is well regarded as one of the best venues for team building near Manila. This is also one of the best resorts in Pampanga that offers good picnic spots near Manila.

Quiet place for rest and relaxation near Manila, in Subic, Angeles City Pampanga and Clark Philippines is something that residents of Manila travelling to the north for a short getaway are looking for. Clark is already a popular destination for golfers from Manila. Clark Freeport offers some of the best golf courses in Pampanga and outshines many golf clubs and golf courses elsewhere in the Philippines. Clark Pampanga offers many good resorts and hotels for a short trip out of Manila, and Clearwater is one of the best places to relax and unwind for a weekend getaway or a short holiday in Pampanga.

This private resort in Pampanga is a frequently visited vacation spot outside of Manila. Included in the list of resorts highly recommended for families with children visiting Clark Philippines is Clearwater Resort located conveniently in the central business district of Clark Freeport which is accessible from Manila.

Free internet WIFI access is offered to guests of this famous hotel in Clark Pampanga. Guests can even connect to Internet WIFI service near the white sand beach, by the famous lake of Clark or in any of the picnic grounds around this resort. This hotel in Clark Philippines is generally considered by Manila residents to be a good place for family trips in Pampanga.

Clearwater Resort is generally regarded as one of the best holiday spots near Manila. Highly recommended summer vacation destination outside Manila is Clearwater Beach Resort in Clark, a safe and convenient tourist spot that offers natural ambience for visitors to enjoy the outdoors with no stress. Private resort is frequently visited during Holy Week and Easter Holidays for residents of Manila travelling out of town on getaway to the north to unwind and relax in outdoor resort.

During holy week, Easter holidays, Christmas, New Year, Halloween and especially the Clark Hot Air Balloon Festival, Manila residents travel out of town to the north to relax and unwind at this famous resort in Pampanga. Clearwater Resort is the hotel in Clark that visitors prefer for family bonding and team building outside of Manila.

For inquiries and bookings, Please click here to contact Clearwater Resort for inquiries and reservations now

Clearwater Resort and Country Club, Clark Pampanga
Creekside Road near Centennial Expo,
Clark Freeport, Pampanga Philippines 2023
(045) 889-5151 0917-520-4403 0922-870-5177
Joanne or Jeremy or Loydha

Getting to this lake and beach resort in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Philippines

After entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway MA Roxas, passing the stand-along wine shop called Clark Wine Center on the right, continue to bear right making no turns at all, go past Mimosa Leisure Estate on the opposite side of the road, one will hit a major intersection. Go straight and the road becomes Creekside Road. YATS Clearwater Resort and Country Club is on the right just 200m down.

Family Bonding by the famous lake of Clark Pampanga

http://www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com

Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 Rea or Chay

Email: Inquiry@ClearwaterPhilippines.com

Please click here to contact Clearwater Resort to reserve a venue for your upcoming event now

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com

While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

While in Clark, one might as well add to the itinerary a visit to the famous Clark Wine Center, the largest wine shop in Philippines which offers over 2000 selections of fine vintage wine from all wine regions, vintages spanning over 50 years covering all price ranges.
http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com

http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

For jobs and business investment opportunities in the Philippines please visit http://www.yilp.com

Hot Line for what’s happening in Clark: 045 889-5151 or 0927-940-2669 ask for Loydha

0915-542-6250 (Jeramie)