Pacific Unity underway in Ha Tinh

  • Published
  • By Pacific Unity Public Affairs
Ha Tinh, Vietnam --  In an effort to foster friendship and improved relationships between the United States and Vietnam, more than 60 military civil engineers, construction workers and volunteers from both countries have come together to renovate three medical clinics in Ha Tinh Province.

Pacific Unity is a U.S. Pacific Command funded Humanitarian Assistance mission, coordinated through the People's Committee of Ha Tinh Province. Pacific Unity is a bilateral (U.S. and Vietnam) and joint (U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy) Engineering Civic Action Program conducted in combination with People's Committee of Ha Tinh Province civil authorities and provincial military command.

U.S. Air Force Prime BEEF (624th Civil Engineer Squadron) and U.S. Navy Seabees (Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 133) construction teams in combination with People's Committee of Ha Tinh civil and military teams and selected construction contractors continue to make major renovation of three medical clinics; Thach Dong Clinic, Thach Mon Clinic, and Ha Huy Tap Clinic.

The project began Aug. 9 and will conclude Aug. 29.

As part of the planning process, the three medical clinics were evaluated by local contractors and military civil engineer planners to determine the needs for each. Now following the plan that was created, the construction team of Seabees, civil engineers, Vietnamese military and local contractors and volunteers work together to provide lasting improvements.

The team has laid tile, built incinerators, replaced plumbing, built bathrooms, showers and water catchment systems, repaired roofs, upgraded electrical systems, repainted, and landscaped.

But most importantly, they have built lasting relationships with the Vietnamese military.

"I think our work here is a small piece of the bigger goal of building a relationship with the people of Vietnam. I think our work will leave a lasting impression on the community which could grow into a great friendship," Petty Officer 3rd Class Jessica Hall, Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport, Gulfport, Miss., project supervisor for the Thach Dong Clinic.