Photo By Chief Warrant Officer James Marchetti | U.S. Army Pvt. Josh Johnson, a plumbing and pipefitting specialist with Washington...... read more read more
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MUAK LEK DISTRICT, SARABURI PROVINCE, Thailand – U.S. Army Spc. Brittany Whitaker and Pvt. Josh Johnson, who are participating in Exercise Cobra Gold 2015 with a detachment of soldiers from Washington National Guard’s 176th Engineering Company (vertical), based out of Snohomish, Wash., took time to visit students of Ban Sub Prik elementary school Feb. 6, 2015.
As part of CG15, a combined force of the U.S. soldiers with 176th Engineer Co., Royal Thai Air Force and Indonesian Marine Corps vertical engineers have been at work since late January in constructing a new multipurpose facility for the students of Ban Sub Prik elementary school, which is located in Muak Lek District, Saraburi Province, Thailand.
Whitaker and Johnson agreed that the experience was enlightening on both ends. The soldiers were able to observe the lives of those whom their work is affecting, and the children were able to touch face with the constructors they have been watching from afar in curiosity.
“Our interpreter has been telling me since we got here that the children are kind of afraid of me because I’m so tall,” laughed Johnson, a plumbing and pipe fitting specialist and Bothell, Wash., native. “When I first walked into the classroom I could see it on their faces. But after I sat down next to them and started showing them how to make their drawings better they really lightened up and started treating me like I had been their friend forever.”
The students were introduced to the soldiers by their teacher Tanaporn Noybanngong, whom expressed that the event was a remarkable way for the students to dispel their cultural differences and come to the realization that people are people, no matter where they reside in the world.
“The students are so grateful for this project and really want to get to know the soldiers, but have been hesitant to since they don’t speak the same language,” said Noybanngong. “These are good soldiers. They made the children laugh like I’ve never seen before and really showed them their human side.”
Following the event, many of the students took time from their lunch-break to scurry toward the soldiers’ living quarters and close the distance with their friends from afar.
176th Engineer Co. will continue constructing the new facility until it officially opens its doors in a dedication ceremony slated for Feb. 18.
| Date Taken: | 02.06.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 02.12.2015 22:28 |
| Story ID: | 154394 |
| Location: | SARABURI PROVINCE, TH |
| Hometown: | BOTHELL, WASHINGTON, US |
| Hometown: | SNOHOMISH, WASHINGTON, US |
| Web Views: | 99 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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