The Deputy Supreme Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, Gen. Veerachai Iamsaad, and U.S. Ambassador Darryl N. Johnson tour Ban Poon Suk village during the dedication of a building built by Thai soldiers and U.S. Navy Seabees. The building will serve as a town hall for 12 villages. Photo by Spec. Sarah Wilkins, USA

Medical Assistance

For more than ten years, Pan Wapadtai has not been able to walk without pain in her knee. After medical care from the American military, she walks a little easier. She said. “The doctors have helped me with my knee.” Pan Wapadtai was one of 699 Thai civilians from Buri Ram province to receive medical care in the first of nine COBRA GOLD 2004 Medical Civic Action Projects (MEDCAPs). The projects occurred in conjunction with five Engineer Civic Action Projects .
Physical therapy was only one of the several services provided by a team of U.S. Navy and Army doctors, physical therapists, dentists, and veterinarians. They also provided optical help for 225 people and pulled 123 teeth for 78 patients. U.S. Navy CPO Darren Vogelman, who worked in the optical section making glasses on the spot, said many Thais walked away seeing clearly for the first time in years. Hundreds of children lined up to get deworming pills, crayons, and coloring books from MEDCAP personnel. Animals were also treated by U.S. Army veterinarians.

Thai and U.S. Marines work on building a school computer center in Rayong province. Photo by PFC Daniel J. Klein, USMC

The impact is huge, said U.S. Army Lt. Col. George Miller, Deputy Director of COBRA GOLD Humanitarian and Civic Assistance Task Force. MEDCAPs help Thai civilians and provide valuable experience for participating military medical personnel, he said. “I feel really happy doctors come to heal me because I am very poor,” said Pan Tudsalum, who received a cane that made walking much easier for him.

“Here they [the military doctors] have to adjust,” Lt. Col. Miller said. “It tests their ability to think on their feet. They train in a new environment with new equipment.” MEDCAP personnel used handheld computers for the first time to record the medical data of patients. This allowed them to get the information to the Thai public health system faster, according to Lt. Col. Miller.
Community Improvement Projects

In the small Wat Boon Nak village of 600, the brand new structure for the village school is arguably the nicest building on the block. It was one of the Thai-U.S. community service projects during COBRA GOLD 2004, and will serve as a computer laboratory.

With a traditional dance exhibition performed by its children, the village welcomed Royal Thai Navy Rear Adm. Chatcharin Choosri, Commander of Combined Navy Forces for the exercise, and his deputy for the exercise, U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Gary Jones. Medical personnel were also there to provide healthcare in the area.

For 27 days, Thai Marines and U.S. Marines and sailors converted a barren lot into a two-story open structure with the whitest walls and deepest blue roof in the village. “[The Thais are] very good with construction and makeup techniques,” observed U.S. Marine GySgt. David Ellis. “About 20 days ago, this was just a sandlot. You would never believe we built this classroom in such little time.” He added, “The people here are so receptive to what we are doing. As soon as the kids get out of school, they come and play with us. They are constantly providing [food and water] for us.”

U.S. Marine Brig. Gen. Frank Panter, Commander, 3rd Force Service Support Group, visited the construction site and said, “I am very proud of them for all the fine work that went into this classroom. The goodness that came out of this project with our Thai brothers means a lot to our unit.”