Photo By Chief Warrant Officer James Marchetti | U.S. Army Sgt. Nory Ann Larimer, a carpentry and masonry specialist with a detachment...... read more read more
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LOP BURI PROVINCE, Thailand - Mobile Military Development Unit 16, a branch of the joint Royal Thai Armed Forced engineer group, teamed up with assets from the People Liberation Army of China and the U.S. Army for an Engineer Civic Action Project, Feb. 12, 2015.
As part of Exercise Cobra Gold 2015, the multinational force is collaborating on the construction of a new multipurpose facility for students of Ban Nhong-Plong Elementary School, located in Chai Badan District, Lop Buri Province, Thailand.
Media from Thai TV 5 and Nippon Hoso Kyokai World Japan Broadcasting Corporation visited the ENCAP and were escorted around the site in order to cover the humanitarian civic assistance mission of CG15. They received an impromptu treat from the soldiers and students of Ban Nhong-Plong toward its conclusion.
Royal Thai Army Col. Nopparat Rattanapong, the commanding officer of MMDU 16 and ENCAP site commander, welcomed reporters as they arrived on site and briefed them on the site’s progression since construction began in mid-January.
“The importance of having the media at our site is to expose the unity our force – the Chinese, Thai and U.S. – is demonstrating to compromise and get this building up despite the barriers we experience every day,” said U.S. Army 1st Lt. Mark Lero, the officer in charge of the detachment of soldiers participating in CG15 with 797th Engineer Company (Vertical), based out of U.S. Army Reserve Center, Barrigada, Guam.
U.S. soldiers also visited students of Ban Nhong-Plong during their lunch break. In a demonstration of respect and an attempt to learn from one another’s cultures, the soldiers brought snacks to the students and taught them English greetings.
“Because I am a mother it felt good to mingle with them and it kind of brought back the feelings of my children I’m missing back home,” said U.S. Army Spc. El Jessica Joi Balajadia, a carpentry and masonry specialist with 797th Engineer Co. and Yona, Guam, native. “I got to fill that void because they’re just like my children. Having them around has made me understand the reason why I’m here.”
As students and soldiers caroled and communicated together through interpreters, they represented the true meaning of CG15. In its 34th iteration, the exercise gives its worldwide participants the opportunity to experience the 182 year friendship between Thailand and the U.S., and a chance to take away lifelong memories apart from their training.
“The fact that I’m contributing to these kids and this community is wonderful,” said Balajadia. “It’s a feeling that I’m going to take home and share with my family. Coming to Thailand has been hard work but, when the project is finished, I know that I helped build that multipurpose building for Lop Buri. It’s an experience I’ll never forget.”
| Date Taken: | 02.12.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 02.17.2015 09:04 |
| Story ID: | 154605 |
| Location: | LOP BURI PROVINCE, TH |
| Web Views: | 246 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, A day of sharing culture at Ban Nhong-Plong, by CW2 James Marchetti, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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