Photo By Chief Petty Officer Erica Gardner | U.S. Marines and sailors work alongside residents of the Karunyawet Home for Disabled...... read more read more
Subscribe
CHONBURI, Thailand - U.S. Marines and sailors used their gardening skills to clear a corner lot of overgrown trees, weeds and debris from the grounds of the Karunyawet Home for Disabled Women in Pattaya, Chonburi province, Kingdom of Thailand, Feb. 21.
The Marines and sailors, members of 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, used machetes and chainsaws to cut back brush and weeds from the lot while women from the center assisted them by raking the leaves and moving small branches to a burn pile.
“We are happy about the help from the Marines here at the Karunyawet Home for the Disabled,” said Jittra Tameeresook, Karunyawet Home for the Disabled resident director. “This area will be a park for the residents and the staff to exercise and relax.”
Women with disabilities ranging from Down’s Syndrome to being deaf are housed together at Karunyawet learning ways to overcome their disabilities.
“I cannot wait to walk in the park,” said Mart, a deaf resident of Karunyawet. “I will be able to take my friends who cannot walk there too.”
Mart, a resident of Karunyawet for six years, expressed how happy she was to have the assistance of the Marines to help clear the lot for the future park, which will be used for exercise and relaxation, and will be complete with a bench and a flower garden.
“When there is a person in need we will come out and help in great numbers," said PFC Carlos Nunez, who is with 4th Marines.
Another resident, Wimon Bundasak, who assisted with the work, was born in Bangkok and orphaned before she came to the home 10 years ago. She is mentally challenged and has minimal use of her right arm, but it was not obvious with the way she transported branches and leaves to the burn pile.
“I am so happy for the Marines,” said Bundasak. “I will use the park to play Patong.”
Patong, or lawn bowling, is an outdoor game in which a weighted ball is rolled toward a smaller stationary ball called a jack. The goal is to roll one's balls so that they come to rest nearer to the jack than those of their opponent. This is sometimes achieved by knocking aside an opponent's balls or the jack.
Peter Thorand, President of the Navy League, coordinated the community relation effort with Navy chaplains.
“It is always great to facilitate the Marines to participate in the community,” said Thorand. “You make friends with the locals and they never forget; the Thai people are amazed and grateful that we are very generous to come here and help them. And the great thing about Marines is that when they are asked to do something, they don't question it or complain – they just do it.”
Navy Lt Flournoy Phelps, a chaplain with 4th Marines, agreed.
“The Marines and sailors looked at this task asked of them and got it done, giving them a sense of accomplishment,” said Phelps.
By noon, the Marines and sailors had removed a large amount of brush. The residents of the center were more able to plan their park as they could see the amount of land they had to work with.
“This is a great opportunity to help the women and it enhances the relationships between the Thai and Cobra Gold personnel,” said Lance Cpl. Jose Ramirez, a member of 4th Marines. “This is how we give back to them.”
Before the Marines and sailors left the center, Bunkdasak and other women from the center challenged the Marines and sailors to a few games of Patong.
CG 13, in its 32nd iteration, is designed to advance regional security and ensure effective response to regional crisis by exercising a robust multinational force from nations sharing commons goals and security commitments in the Asia-Pacific region.
| Date Taken: | 02.21.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 03.07.2013 20:01 |
| Story ID: | 103114 |
| Location: | CHONBURI , TH |
| Web Views: | 65 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, U.S. Marines, sailors clear the way for Karunyawet Home for Disabled Women, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
