Thai soldiers and U.S. Navy Seabees work together to build a school for a community in Ban Nam Yien. This is one of six construction projects built for the community as part of COBRA GOLD 2004. Photo by SSgt. JoAnn S. Makinano, USAF

Built by Thai and U.S. Marines during COBRA GOLD 2004, this finished computer center at a school in Rayong province will serve the children of Wat Boon Nak village. Photo by PFC Daniel J. Klein, USMC

Helping a Thai School

More than a dozen U.S. Air Force 353rd Special Operations Group members helped the Wat San Khao Preschool in Udorn Thani. They brought supplies, building materials, and renovated the playground. They distributed notebooks, pencils, crayons, and erasers to the 60 boys and 61 girls at the school. U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Joseph Hastings presented the school with 60,000 baht ($1,500) to finish the floor in a new classroom that has been under construction since February 2003 and to purchase ceiling fans. U.S. airmen deployed to Thailand donated the funds. They also donated sweat and muscle, replacing a half-dozen worn and unusable swings and repairing a swayback seesaw.

Lakruudom Tamasuntorn, a teacher at the preschool, said, “The children here are happy you have come with supplies. Your generous donation will make this a better place to learn.” U.S. Air Force MSgt. Anthony Jones said his hours spent with the kids “touched my heart.” He said, “It’s a good feeling to bring a smile and a box of crayons to these kids who have relatively little.”

U.S. Air Force Chaplain Kleet Barclay spearheaded the effort and said the experience was humbling. “Our donation pales in comparison to the fantastic hospitality the community of Udorn Thani has shown us over the past few weeks.” Before leaving, the teachers and school administration presented each volunteer with a small pillow and straw sleeping mat.