Ships comprising the forward-deployed Essex
Amphibious Ready Group steam towards Pattaya in formation during
exercise Cobra Gold 2011. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication
Specialist 2nd Class Eva-Marie Ramsaran/Released)
Mass Communication
Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Eva-Marie Ramsaran
Ships of the forward-deployed Essex Amphibious Ready
Group (ARG) and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit arrived in Pattaya
for a scheduled port visit Feb. 21 after completing the multinational
exercise Cobra Gold 2011.
During the visit, Sailors and Marines participated in
multiple community service projects and experienced Thai customs through
tours offered by the ship’s morale, welfare and recreation (MWR)
department.
“I think the Sailors will get great interaction with
the local people in Thailand,” said Lt. Jason Dart, an Essex chaplain
who helped coordinate the community service projects. “People will see
the goodwill toward Thailand and experience first hand the unity between
two nations in a personal, meaningful way.”
On Feb. 22, volunteers from USS Essex (LHD 2)
delivered games, school supplies and interacted with 300 Nohong Charg
Ngaw Elementary School children.
“The kids will teach us some of their activities or
songs and we will trade our games with them,” said Dart before the
event. “The kids there will have new supplies, games and a lasting
memory of Essex Sailors.”
Sailors and Marines will also get to experience
Thailand through a variety of MWR tours, including a trip to Bangkok to
see the Grand Palace, the floating market, the Golden Buddha Temple and
Hellfire Pass. Many Sailors on the ship expressed their excitement to
visit Thailand and are ready to experience everything the country has to
offer.
“I plan on going on an elephant-riding tour,” said
Aviation Ordnanceman Airman Apprentice Vanessa Roberts, who will be
visiting Pattaya for the first time. “I’m looking forward to checking
out the culture and sightseeing.”
The elephant-riding tour is just one of many tours
MWR offers that should make it easier for Essex Sailors and Marines to
experience the local culture, said Matthew Olszyk, Essex afloat
recreation specialist.
“These tours give Sailors the opportunity to engage
in historical opportunities in Thailand,” said Olszyk. “It’s a place
with huge tourism in their economy and famous for their nightlife.”
Others, such as Ship’s Serviceman 1st Class (SW)
Herman Dickens, who has visited Pattaya on five other occasions, said he
would take the opportunity to unwind after the hectic schedule of
exercise Cobra Gold 2011. “I plan on getting a hotel to relax and going
shopping for the family,” said Dickens.
The Essex Amphibious Ready Group is comprised of the
amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2), amphibious transport dock
ship USS Denver (LPD 9), amphibious dock landing ship USS Germantown
(LSD 42) and guided missile destroyer USS Stockdale (DDG 106).
The Essex ARG reports to Commander, Amphibious Force
Seventh Fleet, Rear Adm. Richard Landolt, who is headquartered in
Okinawa, Japan.
