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Regional Japan-U.S. Forces Protecting Common Interests in KEEN EDGE / YAMA SAKURA 2007 Indian Navy Enhances Amphibious Capability Building Trust and Security Strengthening the ROK-U.S. Alliance in RSOI/FOAL EAGLE 2007 War On Terror :: Winning in the Pacific: The Special Operations Forces Indirect ApproachAMAN 2007: Nations United Against Maritime Terrorism Humanitarian Partnership for Health in Vietnam Partnership for Peace and Security in BALIKATAN 2007 Focus Area :: U.S. Commitment to Asia-Pacific Security: F-22A Fighter Happenings :: |
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Medical missions such as this one can bring hope and healing caused by the trauma of war. Such was the case of Ms. Phan Thi Phuc, who in 1975, at the age of 10, was caught in bitter fighting and lost her nose, several fingers and had one leg severely injured. Since that day, she has led a life of shame and had to learn to survive by breathing completely through her mouth. Ms. Phuc’s family took her to Hue Central Hospital during the week of the mission, and pleaded for surgery to correct this horrible disfigurement. U.S. Army Lt. Col. (Dr.) Joe Sniezek, an otolaryngologist, along with several Vietnamese colleagues, worked together to accomplish the first complete nose reconstruction surgery at Hue Central Hospital. Cartilage was taken from Ms. Phuc’s ears and a skin flap was brought down from her forehead to give her a new nose. Ms. Phuc’s face has begun to heal, and her family is overjoyed at her eventual return to normalcy. The Chairman of the Hue City People’s Committee, Mr. Nguyen Van Ly, commended the mission for providing a wide variety of services and helping so many different segments of the community. He also expressed his appreciation for the extensive donations to local hospitals and orphanages, and American efforts to bring native Hawaiian trees to Hue as part of the existing Honolulu-Hue sister city partnership to support a long-term beautification plan. Dr. Nicholas Doan Van, a native of Hue now an interventional cardiologist in California, translated and explained how the city officials thought the mission was truly groundbreaking and set the stage for expanded Vietnamese-U.S. cooperation. On the way home, a tired but happy group of Americans reflected on all the hard work, long hours, unusual sights, and needy patients. Was it a good investment of time and money? Had they really made a difference? What a young Vietnamese translator said at the closing ceremony lingered in their minds: “Your positive actions taught us what Aloha means. Come again soon and work close beside your many new friends.”
E-mail: apdforum@apan-info.net
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