Photos: Pacific Partnership 2010

While most of the defense community’s attention is firmly fixed on McChrystal-gate, my focus is on the softer and often overlooked side of US Navy operations. Pacific Partnership 2010 is the fifth in an annual series of humanitarian and civic assistance operations projecting US soft power in the Pacific Rim. This year, USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) is visiting six nations, including Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Timor-Leste. To give these servicemen the credit they deserve, below is a series of photos from Pacific Partnership 2010. Enjoy.

Caption: The daughters of Cantorna, chief hospital corpsman, wave good-bye to their father aboard the Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy at Naval Base San Diego. Mercy’s mission is designed to enhance relationships through medical, dental and engineering outreach projects along with host and partner nations. Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Mark August

Caption: Maj. Brian Glodt, a doctor embarked aboard the Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy, treats a Cambodian child during a Pacific Partnership 2010 medical civic action event at Sihanoukville Hospital, Cambodia. Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Eddie Harrison

Caption: A Cambodian child plays jump rope with a Sailor from the Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy during a Pacific Partnership 2010 community service event at the Goodwill School. Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Jonathan Husman

Caption: Lt. Brad Clove, embarked aboard the Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy, during a Pacific Partnership 2010 community service event at the Goodwill School. Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Jonathan Husman

Caption: U.S. Pacific Fleet Band members play and dance with Vietnamese children during a concert at the Nha Van Hoa Lao Dong cultural center in Quy Nhon, Vietnam, supporting Pacific Partnership 2010. Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Joshua Martin

Caption: Royal Australian Navy Lt. Elizabeth Livingstone and Singapore army Maj. Paul Zhao, both doctors embarked aboard the Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy, perform cataract surgery on a Vietnamese patient aboard Mercy during a Pacific Partnership 2010 visit to Quy Nhon, Vietnam. Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Eddie Harrison

Caption: Petty Officer 2nd Class Jennifer Hunt, hospital corpsman, embarked aboard the Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy, blows bubbles with children during a Pacific Partnership 2010 community service project at Starfish Primary School in Sihanoukville, Cambodia. Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Joshua Martin

Caption: Cmdr. Charlotte Yuen, a Navy doctor embarked aboard the Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy, paints with with children during a Pacific Partnership 2010 community service project at Starfish Primary School in Sihanoukville, Cambodia. Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Joshua Martin

Caption: A Cambodian child plays jump rope with Petty Officer 1st Class Yissel Castanon, embarked aboard the Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy, during a Pacific Partnership 2010 community service event at the Goodwill School. Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Jonathan Husman

Caption: Cambodian children play games with Sailors and non-governmental organization volunteers embarked aboard the Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy during a Pacific Partnership 2010 community service event at the Enfants du Cambodge orphanage. Photo by Seaman Jon Husman

Caption: Adm. Robert F. Willard, commander of U.S. Pacific Command, holds a Vietnamese child during his visit to the pediatric ward aboard the Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy. Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Eddie Harrison

Christopher R. Albon is a Ph.D. candidate specializing in armed conflict, public health, human security, and health diplomacy.

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Tagged as: Health, Health Diplomacy, Pacific, Pacific Partnership, Soft Power, United States, US Navy