Pacific Unity concludes in Vietnam

  • Published
HA TINH, Vietnam (AFNS) --  In an effort to foster friendship and improved relationships between the U.S. and Vietnam, more than 60 military civil engineers, construction workers and volunteers from both countries came together Aug. 9-29 to renovate three medical clinics in Ha Tinh Province.

The 624th Civil Engineer Squadron out of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, and Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 133 out of Gulfport, Miss., in combination with People's Committee of Ha Tinh civil and military teams and selected construction contractors, made major renovations to the Thach Dong Clinic, Thach Mon Clinic and Ha Huy Tap Clinic.

Pacific Unity is a U.S. Pacific Command-funded humanitarian assistance mission, coordinated through the People's Committee of Ha Tinh Province. Pacific Unity is a bilateral (U.S. and Vietnam) and joint (U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy) engineering civic action program conducted in cooperation with People's Committee of Ha Tinh Province civil authorities and provincial military command.

As part of the planning process, the three medical clinics were evaluated by local contractors and military civil engineer planners to determine the needs for each, officials said. Following the plan that was created, the construction team of Seabees, civil engineers, Vietnamese military and local contractors and volunteers worked together to provide lasting improvements. The team has laid tile, built incinerators, replaced plumbing, built bathrooms, showers and water catchment systems, repaired roofs, upgraded electrical systems, repainted and landscaped.

But most importantly, team members said, they have built lasting relationships with the Vietnamese military.

"I think our work here is a small piece of the bigger goal of building a relationship with the people of Vietnam," said Petty Officer 3rd Class Jessica Hall, a project supervisor for the Thach Dong Clinic project. "I think our work will leave a lasting impression on the community which could grow into a great friendship."

(Courtesy of Pacific Unity Public Affairs.)