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PACIFIC OCEAN — Servicemembers assigned to the hospital ship USNS
Mercy made a brief mission stop March 20, near Ulithi Atoll, which is part of
the Caroline Islands in the Federated States of Micronesia.
This is the first official engagement of Pacific Partnership 2018,
where the Mercy will be sailing near Ulithi Atoll and using helicopters to
deliver medical supplies to an advanced echelon team of PP 18 medical
professionals embarked on USNS Brunswick, the secondary mission platform, which
will conducting a mission in FSM. PP18 medical professionals plan to work
alongside Ulithi Atoll public health professionals, assisting in treating local
citizens at a clinic.
“It’s truly a pleasure for our PP18 team to conduct this exercise
and strengthen the partnership between our two countries,” said PP18’s mission
commander, Navy Capt. David Bretz. “This mission also holds a deeper meaning
because of the strong historical ties the United States has had with Ulithi in
the past.”
On March 19, 1945, Comfort-class hospital ship USS Mercy reported to the 5th Fleet at the Ulithi Atoll to assist the Okinawa campaign,
during WWII. Throughout this campaign, USS Mercy made serval stops in Okinawa
where they began embarking and treating patients despite the frequent air raids
and kamikaze attacks.
The Ulithi Atoll became one of the centralized points for
the allies to treat patients and gather supplies for four months. For her
service during WWII, the Mercy received two battle stars.
Seventy-three years and one day after the USS Mercy made a stop in
the Ulithi Atoll, USNS Mercy, anchored near Ulithi Atoll. This feat was
significant to many.
“It’s very special to be doing this in a place like the Ulithi
Atoll, which has incredible historical significance for the Allies efforts in
the Pacific Theater during World War II,” said Her Majesty’s Royal Navy Capt.
Peter Olive, Deputy Mission Commander, Pacific Partnership 2018. “Joint efforts
such as these are what Pacific Partnership is all about – multiple nations
coming together to achieve a common goal and to share experiences.”
During this mission, several government officials from the
Federated States of Micronesia were flown onto the Mercy from the Ulithi Atoll,
where they were given a tour of the ship and were able to meet Sailors
stationed aboard the ship.
“We are really excited to help out in any way that we can,” said
Navy Lt. Brian Ford, family physician and the event led for the medical portion
of this exercise. “Ultihi has done a lot historically for the United States,
and I think it will be an amazing opportunity to give back to a community that
has assisted the United States in the past by working alongside their local
health professionals in a clinic and bring medical supplies to this clinic to
be used for current and future patients.”
Mercy, along with the expeditionary fast transport ship USNS
Brunswick, are participating in Pacific Partnership 2018, the largest
annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific. PP18’s objective is to
enhance regional coordination in areas such as medical readiness and
preparedness for man-made and natural disasters.
Pacific Partnership 2018 consists of more than 800 U.S., partner
and host nation personnel working side-by-side to better prepare for potential
humanitarian aid and disaster response situations.
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