U.S.-Thai Airmen have a heart for handicapped children

  • Published
  • By Capt. Kirsten Udd
  • 13th Air Force Public Affairs
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 in Korat, Thailand, 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 participants allowed the outreach team to purchase shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrushes, 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 mental illnesses 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, said he 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.