U.S. forces arrive in Vietnam for Pacific Angel 10-2

  • Published
  • By Capt. Timothy Lundberg
  • 36th Wing Public Affairs
HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM --  Thirty-nine U.S. military personnel from bases throughout the Pacific and continental U.S. arrived here May 8 to participate in Pacific Angel 10-2.

The C-130 Hercules from the 144th Airlift Squadron at Kulis Air National Guard Base, Alaska, flew in doctors, dentists, optometrists, medical technicians and engineers to conduct humanitarian missions in villages near Can Tho, Vietnam, from May 10 to 15.

Pacific Angel 10-2 was directed by U.S. Pacific Command officials and is being carried out by U.S. Pacific Air Forces personnel.  Missions are designed to provide civic assistance and build civic capacity improvement in countries throughout the Pacific. The first Pacific Angel was held in Cambodia in May of 2009.

"Pacific Angel missions are designed to ensure that U.S. military forces work closely with the host nation military and appropriate non-governmental aide organizations to ensure the best possible effect during our time in county," said Lt. Col. Blair English, Pacific Angel 10-2 commander, who is deployed from 13th Air Force at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii . "It's also important to note that this is a total-force and joint mission for the U.S. military forces, with U.S. Air Force active duty, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve forces and U.S. Navy Seabee Engineers.

"This mission has been in planning for months and we're all very excited to work with our Vietnamese military brethern and personnel from the NGOs to provide civic medical assistance and capability improvement," Colonel English said

With the arrival of the main body of U.S. forces in country, Pacific Angel 10-2 is ready to help provide support and increase civic capacity in Vietnam in cooperation with the Vietnamese military. Pacific Angel missions also allow PACAF personnel to execute USPACOM's mission of increasing cooperation, security and stability throughout the Pacific.