A young Vietnamese boy opens his mouth for a dental assistant to examine during Pacific Angel-Vietnam in Nghe An Province, Vietnam, June 11, 2012. The dental clinic, a class room at the Xuan Lam Primary School, was filled with children getting their first dental cleanings. The children were sent home with tooth brushes, tooth paste and fresh teeth. Operation Pacific Angel gives the U.S. an opportunity to support the efforts of partner nations in the Pacific region by providing medical, dental, optometry and engineering assistance to the host nation citizens. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Lauren Main)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
U.S. servicemembers speak to the Vietnemese contractors through their interpreter at the Xuam Lam Medical Clinic during PACANGEL-Vietnam in Nghe An Province, Vietnam, June 11, 2012. The team is working with the Vietnam People's Armed Forces, as well as local contractors, to restore a community clinic to provide improved facilities for the province. Operation Pacific Angel gives the U.S. an opportunity to support the efforts partner nations in the Pacific region by providing medical, dental, optometry and engineering assistance to the host nation citizens. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Lauren Main)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
Staff Sgt. Ashton Alan, medical technician, takes the blood pressure of a Vietnamese man at the Xuan Lam Primary School in Nghe An Province, Vietnam, June 11 during Pacific Angel 2012. Operation Pacific Angel gives the U.S. an opportunity to support the efforts partner nations in the Pacific region by providing medical, dental, optometry and engineering assistance to the host nation citizens. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Lauren Main)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
Two Vietnamese women wait to be seen by U.S. military doctors at the Xuan Lam Primary School in Nghe An Province, Vietnam, June 11, 2012, during Pacific Angel-Vietnam 2012. Operation Pacific Angel gives the U.S. an opportunity to support the efforts partner nations in the Pacific region by providing medical, dental, optometry and engineering assistance to the host nation citizens. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Lauren Main)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
A Vietnamese woman visits a construction site at the Xuam Lam Medical Clinic during Pacific Angel-Vietnam 12 in Nghe An Province, Vietnam, June 11, 2012. Operation Pacific Angel gives the U.S. an opportunity to support the efforts of other governments in the Pacific region by providing medical, dental, optometry and engineering assistance to the host nation citizens. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Lauren Main)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
A young boy sits on his mother's lap during an exam at the Xuan Lam Primary School in Nghe An Province, Vietnam, June 11, 2012, during Pacific Angel-Vietnam 2012. Throughout the course of the day, more than 700 patients were treated in women's health, family practice, dental and optometry. Operation Pacific Angel gives the U.S. an opportunity to support the efforts of other governments in the Pacific region by providing medical, dental, optometry and engineering assistance to the host nation citizens. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Lauren Main)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res

PACANGEL: U.S., Vietnam militaries partner for humanitarian operation

Published June 13, 2012
By Senior Airman Lauren Main
Pacific Angel-Vietnam 12 Public Affairs

NGHE AN PROVINCE, VIETNAM -- Approximately 58 U.S. military members, along with the Vietnam People's Armed Forces, and two non-governmental organizations, Project H.O.P.E. and East Meets West, kicked-off Pacific Angel-Vietnam 12 in Nghe An Province, Vietnam, June 11.

Pacific Angel is a joint and combined humanitarian assistance operation that includes humanitarian medical, dental and optometry care, as well as engineering programs, and several subject-matter expert exchanges and training opportunities from June 10 through 18.

During the eight-day engagement, 17 U.S. military engineers will refurbish the Xuan Lam Medical Clinic. The team has already replaced the roof of the facility, laid the tile work for the exam rooms, and completed a portion of the exterior cosmetic painting with more work to be completed throughout the operation.

The Health Services Outreach medical team is also working hard at the Xuan Lam Primary School, where classrooms have been transformed to serve as a temporary treatment facility for local Vietnamese. More than 750 patients were seen on the first day of the engagement with treatments ranging from optometry care, women's health, dental, family care and pharmaceutical services.

Pacific Angel, a 13th Air Force led operation, supports U.S. Pacific Command's capacity-building efforts by partnering with government, non-governmental agencies and multilateral militaries in the region to provide medical, dental, optometry and engineering assistance to their citizens.

Since 2007, U.S. military members have partnered together with host nation military personnel throughout the region to help improve the lives of tens of thousands of people through PACANGEL missions.