Thousands helped as Pacific Angel concludes

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Kerry Jackson
  • 13th Air Force Public Affairs
QUANG TRI PROVINCE, Vietnam --  Air Force officials concluded the final iteration of Operation Pacific Angel 2009 during a ceremony here Sept. 22, culminating a two-part operation that provided humanitarian aid to thousands of people in communities in the Asia-Pacific region. 

Operation Pacific Angel is a joint and combined humanitarian and civic assistance program aimed at improving military civic cooperation between the United States and Asia-Pacific countries. The first iteration of Operation Pacific Angel 2009 took place concurrently in Indonesia and Timor Leste in July, with the second and final iteration here in Vietnam. 

"We are happy to have had the opportunity to work alongside our Vietnamese counterparts during this mission," said Col. Wayne Pritt, 13th Air Force command surgeon at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. "It allowed us to not only bring very important aid to this community, but to also build and foster relationships here in Vietnam. We look forward to working more with Vietnam and other nations in the Asia-Pacific region." 

The Pacific Angel team in Vietnam was comprised of civil engineer and medical Airmen that provided a comprehensive level of humanitarian support to the Quang Tri Province community. 

The medical team provided more than 5,000 residents here general medical care that included treatment for chronic illnesses, acute illnesses, diabetes, hypertension, and parasites, along with routine dental and optometry care. 

The civil engineer team focused on refurbishing the Cam Thuy Medical Clinic, which included plumbing, electrical and structural work. 

"We would like to thank [the United States for their] initiative to send the U.S. Air Force team...to give medical [care] to local people in Quang Tri Province as well as helping in the improvement of the Cam Thuy Medical Clinic," Nguyen Duc Chinh, the deputy chairman of the Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee, said at the closing ceremony. "[These] are very meaningful works and we would like to thank you so much for that." 

The deputy chairman said the Pacific Angel effort in Vietnam would be remembered for a long time by the people of the Quang Tri community. 

"This is not only support to our local population, but it also helps to improve [United States and Vietnam] relationships that have sometimes been up and down," the deputy chairman said. "Your presence here reaffirms that we all wish for better a world, a peaceful world and, for both our people, a peaceful prosperity." 

The Airmen worked alongside other U.S. and Vietnamese government officials, as well as non-governmental organizations that have a record for helping those in need around the world. 

"The success of this humanitarian effort could not have been possible without the collective help and support of Operation Hope, the East Meets West Foundation, and the U.S. State Department here in Vietnam," Colonel Pritt said. "Their help was key in bringing aid to this community, and we can't thank them enough for their support and their continued commitment to helping those in need." 

Operation Pacific Angel is a recurring joint and combined humanitarian and civic assistance program aimed at improving military civic cooperation between the United States and countries throughout the Asia-Pacific region. It is a Pacific Air Forces operation led by 13th Air Force. 

Units that participated in Operation Pacific Angel 2009 in Indonesia, Timor Leste and Vietnam included Pacific Air Forces, 13th Air Force and the 20th Airlift Squadron from the Hawaii Air National Guard, all at Hickam AFB; U.S. Army Dental Command at Fort Sam Houston, Texas; the 36th Wing at Andersen AFB, Guam; the 141st Air Refueling Wing from the Washington Air National Guard at Fairchild AFB, Wash.; the 176th Wing from the Alaska Air National Guard at Kulis Air National Guard Base, Alaska; and the 168th Air Refueling Wing from the Alaska Air National Guard, Eielson AFB, Alaska.