News>U.S.-Thai Airmen have a heart for handicapped children
Photos
KORAT, Thailand - Airmen deliver donations to the Panyahukul Handicapped School during a community outreach event in Korat, Thailand, March 18. The Airmen are participating in Exercise Cope Tiger 2011, an annual, multilateral, joint field training exercise currently being conducted at Korat and Udon Thani Royal Thai Air Bases March 14 through 25. (U.S. Air Force Photo/ Capt. Kirsten Udd)
KORAT, Thailand - Airmen set up donations to the Panyahukul Handicapped School during a community outreach event in Korat, Thailand, March 18. The Airmen are participating in Exercise Cope Tiger 2011, an annual, multilateral, joint field training exercise currently being conducted at Korat and Udon Thani Royal Thai Air Bases March 14 through 25. (U.S. Air Force Photo/ Capt. Kirsten Udd)
KORAT, Thailand - Worachai Buaban, nicknamed "Coke", holds a soccer ball donated by Airmen during a community outreach event to the Panyahukul Handicapped School in Korat, Thailand, March 18. The Airmen are participating in Exercise Cope Tiger 2011, an annual, multilateral, joint field training exercise currently being conducted at Korat and Udon Thani Royal Thai Air Bases March 14 through 25. (U.S. Air Force Photo/ Capt. Kirsten Udd)
KORAT, Thailand - U.S. Air Force and Royal Thai Air Force servicemembers discuss students' needs with teachers during a community outreach event at the Panyahukul Handicapped School in Korat, Thailand, March 18. The Airmen are participating in Exercise Cope Tiger 2011, an annual, multilateral, joint field training exercise currently being conducted at Korat and Udon Thani Royal Thai Air Bases March 14 through 25. (U.S. Air Force Photo/ Capt. Kirsten Udd)
KORAT, Thailand - Maj. Greg Richert accepts a thank you gift on behalf of Cope Tiger Airmen who donation toys and school supplies to the Panyahukul Handicapped School during a community outreach event in Korat, Thailand, March 18. Major Richert is the Chief of Aerospace Medicine at 13th Air Force, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, and medical lead for Exercise Cope Tiger 2011, an annual, multilateral, joint field training exercise currently being conducted at Korat and Udon Thani Royal Thai Air Bases March 14 through 25. (U.S. Air Force Photo/ Capt. Kirsten R. Udd)
by Capt. Kirsten Udd
13th Air Force Public Affairs
3/24/2011 - KORAT, Thailand -- Servicemembers presented more than $1,300 in supplies to help Panyahukul Handicapped School students at a community outreach event during Cope Tiger, a multilateral joint and combined field training exercise here March 18.
The school staff welcomed U.S. and Royal Thai Air Force Airmen with a donation ceremony to express their gratitude and invited Maj. Greg Richert to give a speech.
"This is our second year donating to this school, last year it was one of the schools that our people enjoyed visiting the most," said Major Richert, Chief of Aerospace Medicine at 13th Air Force, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, and medical lead for the exercise.
Donations from exercise participatns allowed the outreach team to purchase shampoo and conditioner, toothpaste and toothbrushes, stationaries, two water dispensers, and eight fans for the children. They also stocked the school with sports equipment such as badminton kits, soccer balls, volleyballs and legballs.
After the speeches the Airmen and teachers posed for a photo shoot with Worachai Buaban, nicknamed "Coke", a 10-year old mute student with mental illnesses. He mouthed the Thai words for "thank you" and became the star of the event as he posed for photos with a new soccer ball.
Following the photos, the Airmen toured the school which has a staff of 75 teachers and accommodates 442 students with either a mental illness or hearing impairments.
During the visit to the dorm rooms one of the teachers explained that the barracks-style accommodations, with beds crammed edge to edge, housed 60 girls for four months at a time.
"It's a great school to give to because they have good infrastructure but they have no stuff for the kids," said Royal Thai Air Force Wing Commander Apichart Nathinitiadat, Chief of Civic Action.
As they toured the school, Airmen were able to see some of last year's donations being used around the school. As they discussed the school's needs teachers offered suggestions for next year's donation list, including a scrolling marquee so that the hearing-impaired children could understand announcements and sewing machines so that the students can learn a skill.
Capt Glen Whelan, an F-15 pilot with the 44th fighter Squadron at Kadena Air Base, Japan, enjoyed the event and the opportunity to be a part of Cope Tiger's community outreach.
"It's a great way, when we're here, not only to interact with the partner militaries, but also get out in the town, do stuff with the local folks, and show them that we're not just here as a fighting force, or just to work with their military. We care about the region and the Thai people as a whole and we're not just here to fly, that's not our only job," said Whelan.
As they departed, the Airmen compiled a new shopping list and discussed new ways to raise money for next year's event.
Cope Tiger is an opportunity for the U.S., Thailand and Singapore armed forces to strengthen relationships and demonstrates the U.S commitment to regional peace, security and the humanitarian interests of partners in the region.
