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Timorese receive dental care at one of two temporary U.S. medical/dental clinics. Here, U.S. Navy Lt. Nancy Hall, assisted by DT Allen Azueta, extracts a tooth.
Photo by PHAN Nicholas C. Messina, USN |
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Aboard USS Essex (LHD 2), UN Deputy Commissioner for National Police Operations Alan King presents a plaque to USS Essex Commanding Officer Capt. Jan van Tol. Deputy Commissioner King, a UK police officer, thanked the crew for their hospitality and the tour of the USS Essex.
Photo by PH1(AW/SW) Essex D. Moore, III, USN |
But they did not stop at providing medical care. Other sailors and Marines used their expertise to refurbish a badly damaged school building outside Dili, in the town of Liquicia. They installed ceiling tiles and vents, painted the interior and exterior of the school buildings, patched holes in the roofs, refurbished chalkboards, and cleared clogged plumbing.
“Everybody seems happy to see us, when we drive by they all come out to wave at us,” said U.S. Navy AC2 Kelly Foster. “I think just showing up makes a difference. Even though some people may never see what we’re doing, they know that we’re here to help out.”
Many local children and a few cautious adults came out to watch the school’s metamorphosis. “In a war-torn country, most people are shell shocked; they don’t really want to come out,” said U.S. Marine GySgt. Emerson Tate. “When they see a lot of military activity, they don’t want to be around. Projects like this help ease those fears.”
Senior representatives from several organizations in Timor-Leste visited the USS Essex, while U.S. sailors and Marines were ashore working on the civil affairs projects. Among them was Mr. Alan R. King, United Nations Deputy Commissioner for Operations at the National Police Headquarters in Dili. Mr. King, a British citizen, is part of a force of police officers from 31 countries helping to establish a new Timor-Leste police force. His responsibilities include recruiting and training almost 2,800 new police officers in Timor-Leste.
While on board the USS Essex, Mr. King presented a plaque from his police department in Essex County, England, to the ship’s Commanding Officer, Capt. Jan M. van Tol. The USS Essex is the fifth U.S. Navy ship to bear the name adopted from Essex County in Massachusetts, where materials were gathered to build the first of the five ships. The name for the American county came from Essex, England, the port from which the Mayflower sailed with the Pilgrims bound for America, noted Mr. King. “They were some of the first settlers of New England — hence the name of Essex County in Massachusetts.”
Citing the AV-8B Harrier aircraft and Landing Craft, Air Cushion on board the USS Essex, and the peacekeeping role the ship plays — similar to the one he and his associates play in Timor-Leste — Mr. King said, “I see that what the crew of USS Essex and all of us here at [United Nations Mission Support Timor-Leste] are trying to do is to train and to build a new country and community. Using skills and equipment available, these resources have been and will continue to be utilized to build a new democracy.”
This is the second trip to Timor-Leste by the USS Essex, since the ship became part of the Forward Deployed U.S. Naval Force in 2000. The previous visit was in late October-early November 2001, barely a year after the country had gained its independence. Both visits included medical, dental, and engineering projects to rebuild structural foundations, and to build the hopes of the Timorese people.
“I hope that the foundations have been laid and that the will of the Timorese will pull [them] through, and that in the next few years this country — the 191st member of the United Nations — will see sustainability and progress as a democratic society,” concluded Mr. King.”
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| Timorese wait to be screened by U.S. Navy HM3 (FMF/SW) Joshua Stone before treatment by medical staff from the USS Essex. |
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