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U.S. Navy dentist Lt. Dan Grossman was also on the beach as part of a five-person team handling dental issues. The team was getting ready to start its second day of mostly tooth extractions. One morning, an Indonesian service member scaled a palm tree and dropped a few green coconuts. One of his colleagues on the ground pointed to a coconut, indicating that the Marines should pick it up. U.S. Marine Sgt. Maj. David Bullock was soon learning how to hack away the top part of the coconut to get to the milk. With that mission complete, it was time to unload the second LCAC of the day.

After the 35 pallets of rations and bottled water were stacked on the beach, it was time to load the trucks. That’s when it became apparent that teamwork not only builds bridges, but also moves dump trucks stuck in the sand. Both militaries pitched in to get the truck back on the road. Once the truck was on the road, the two groups gave themselves a round of applause followed by a group picture. Unfortunately, getting supplies from the beach to the truck was almost as difficult as getting the truck out of the sand. The distance between the two was sizeable. So, the two forces formed a relay line . . . until someone complained about being hot and tired.

Then, to the amusement of everyone on the beach, Indonesian Capt. Benny Fauzi and Sgt. Maj. Bullock decided to make a point. “Hot [weather] doesn’t bother me,” yelled Capt. Fauzi, as he headed for the supplies. Between the two of them, they double-timed three boxes of bottled water to the truck. The awe, mixed with laughter, created a bond as both sides pitched in and finished loading the truck.

The day ended with Capt. Fauzi and Sgt. Maj. Bullock in an arm-wrestling match. “What do I get if I win?” Capt. Fauzi asked. To which Sgt. Maj. Bullock replied, “My friendship.” After the match, Capt. Fauzi began negotiating for a uniform. He settled for a T-shirt with Sgt. Maj. Bullock’s unit printed on it, and offered one of his uniforms in exchange. A high five and a handshake later, the two headed their separate ways, vowing to meet at the arm-wrestling chair the next day.

Marathon Baking
In the USS Bonhomme Richard’s bakeshop, sailors and Marines worked around the clock to bake more than 4,000 servings of cookies, brownies, and cornbread for the tsunami victims. “The bake-a-thon is yet another example of the compassionate spirit of our sailors and Marines,” said Capt. Jones. “It’s amazing how the human desire to help was transformed into this mammoth all-hands effort. They were literally working around the clock to get the aid where it needed to go, and we got it there.”

Helicopter Rescues
After dropping off badly needed supplies to Blang Pidie Air Field, the crew of an MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter embarked aboard USS Bonhomme Richard rescued more than 40 stranded Indonesians. U.S. Navy pilot Lt. Cmdr. Jerry Lynch said they noticed the Indonesians trapped between thick jungle, heavy surf, the mouth of a river and the path they had been walking all day. “We stopped to see if they had a problem,” he said. “By the time we landed, a few began running through the trees and bush to get to us.” Using a translation card to communicate, the crew realized the Indonesians were trapped. “It was an entire village that was stranded there,” said Lt. j.g. Dan Falkner. “They said they hadn’t eaten in about five days and they wanted to get to the airport, where we’d been dropping off supplies all day.” The MH-60S transported 19 women, children, and elderly on the first run to Blang Pidie Air Field and 21 men on the second. The rescued villagers received medical care, food, and water at the airfield.

The USS Bonhomme Richard’s Executive Officer, Capt. Steve Greene, noted, “Our sailors and Marines saw the opportunity to contribute to a truly noble cause, and they seized the day. They worked day and night, planning missions, staging relief supplies, and preparing aircraft and LCACs to deliver humanitarian aid to the people of Meulaboh and Calang.” The ship concluded operations in the area on 18 January 2005.

Reconfiguring Helicopters U.S. Navy pilots, aircrews, and maintenance teams aboard the guided missile frigate USS Thach (FFG 43) and the guided missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) reconfigured their SH-60B Seahawk helicopters for the humanitarian mission by removing sonobuoy launchers and other sensor equipment. They removed 316 pounds (142 kilograms) of equipment, freeing up an additional 10 square feet (nine square meters) of cargo space for food, water, and evacuees. These helicopters are primarily for anti-submarine and surface warfare missions that require multiple sensors and weapons systems, such as radar, torpedoes, and missiles.

“By reconfiguring our helicopters, [we] have proven the versatility of the SH-60B in providing a broad range of capabilities, including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief,” said U.S. Navy pilot

Lt. Patrick Cliggett. Pilots applied skills learned while landing on the decks of small ships pitching in the water to the daunting task of landing on undeveloped landing zones ashore. They flew 10-hour days during the operation, providing vital food and water to isolated Indonesian villages from ships stationed off the coast.

Helicopters aboard the guided missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69) helped the Spanish Red Cross provide clean water for tsunami victims by transporting Spanish water purifiers to a remote area of Indonesia. U.S. Marines transferred the water purifier units to the USS Milius from Banda Aceh airport by slinging them under helicopters for a gentle drop onto the ship’s flight deck.

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