Son of Milwaukee resident participates in humanitarian mission in South Pacific

Photo By Tech. Sgt. Tony Tolley | Petty Officer 2nd Class Curtis Clark, aviation boatswain's mate (fuels), paints a dormitory room at Matevulu College during the Vanuatu phase of Pacific Partnership 2011. Pacific Partnership is a five-month humanitarian assistance initiative that will make port visits to Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and the Federated States of Micronesia. (Photo by: Tech. Sgt. Tony Tolley)  

ABOARD USS CLEVELAND, USAFRICOM, AT SEA

06.28.2011

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Russell 

Pacific Partnership 2011

ABOARD USS CLEVELAND – Petty Officer 2nd Class Curtis Clark, aviation boatswain’s mate (fuel), son of Gregory Goner, a resident of Milwaukee, Wis., is serving aboard amphibious transport dock ship USS Cleveland in support of Pacific Partnership 2011.

Cleveland is the lead vessel for Pacific Partnership 2011. Pacific Partnership is the Pacific Fleet’s annual mission to Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands to engage in partnerships with host nations by improving dialogue, effecting a lasting, positive change, and employing subject matter expert exchanges in order to improve the capabilities and interoperability of the U.S. and partner nations when dealing with natural and man-made disasters.

“Pacific Partnership is a great service to the world,” said Clark. “I fully support this mission and what it stands for.”

Cleveland completed its mission in Tonga and will continue in Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and the Federated States of Micronesia, and the military group will be accompanied by non-government organizations like Project HOPE, Vets Without Borders, and the University of California, San Diego Pre-Dental Society.

“This mission has allowed me to experience different nations, their cultures and their people,” said Clark.

Pacific Partnership developed as a mission following the tsunami in 2004 which devastated Indonesia and much of the South Pacific. Since 2006, Pacific Partnership has treated 150,000 patients in 15 countries, and is supported by all U.S. uniformed services and partner nations that include Australia, Japan, and New Zealand. Other nations providing teams include Canada, Spain, Malaysia, and France.


For more news from Pacific Partnership, visit:

www.cpf.navy.mil/pp11

http://pacificpartnership/wordpress.com

www.facebook/pacificpartnership

http://twitter.com/pacificpartner

• Date Taken: 06.28.2011
• Date Posted: 06.28.2011 00:41
• Story ID: 72863
• Location: ABOARD USS CLEVELAND, USAFRICOM, AT SEA