Essex Departs Thailand After Strengthening Ties with Host Nation

[Navy for Moms Admin]

Essex Departs Thailand After Strengthening Ties with Host Nation
Release Date: 2/25/2009
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Matthew Ebarb, USS Essex Public Affairs

090218-N-9418A-001 GULF OF THAILAND (Feb. 18, 2009) Operations Specialist Seaman Recruit Sultan Jahangir plots ships movement during a drill in the combat information center aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) during Cobra Gold 2009. Cobra Gold 2009 is an annual Kingdom of Thailand and U.S. co-sponsored military exercise designed to train U.S. and partner Pacific-nation forces. The exercise will also include humanitarian civic action projects involving personnel from the U.S, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore and Thailand. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Taurean Alexander/Released)

PATTAYA, Thailand (NNS) -- The forward deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) departed Pattaya, Thailand Feb. 23, after wrapping up exercise Cobra Gold with a four-day port visit.

Sailors and Marines met local citizens, participated in recreational activities and experience Thai culture and traditions. For many Sailors and Marines, the port visit was a chance for a relaxing break from life underway.

"It was a nice change to be able to get off of the ship, relax with friends and see something different," said Yeoman Seaman Ashley Oney, of Houston. "It's not every day that you get to do something like take a tour on the back of an elephant."

Essex' Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) Department offered Sailors unique opportunities, including tours, cooking lessons and an overnight excursion to Bangkok.

"I went on the cooking tour where we learned to prepare some traditional Thai dishes," said Information Systems Technician 2nd Class (SW) Sara Thompson, of Glenburne, Maine. "It was actually better than I expected. The food was spicy but very tasty. I learned some new recipes that I would love to try in my own home in the future."

Sailors and Marines also had a chance to lend a helping hand to the local community. More than 80 service members volunteered to help repaint the Ban Bang Lamung Boys Home Foundation in Laem Chabang, where they also taught the students English.

"I think this speaks volumes of what we want to do for the local communities we visit. All of these Sailors and Marines are giving their time to help out a place that is a little less fortunate than we are, and it's a great way to wrap up Cobra Gold," said Capt. Brent Canady, commanding officer of Essex. "Thailand is a great country with great people and we definitely want to thank the people for their warm hospitality."

The port visit followed the successful completion of the Cobra Gold 2009 (CG 09) exercise with the Royal Thai Military. CG 09 is an annual Kingdom of Thailand and U.S. cosponsored exercise designed to train U.S. and partner Pacific-nation forces. The exercise features multinational humanitarian civic action projects between Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, Thailand and the U.S., as well as a field training exercise to promote familiarity with and cohesion between these partner nation's military forces.

Essex is the lead ship of the only forward-deployed U.S. Expeditionary Strike Group and serves as the flagship for CTF 76, the Navy's only forward-deployed amphibious force commander. Task Force 76 is headquartered at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan, with a detachment in Sasebo, Japan.

For more news from USS Essex (LHD 2), visit www.navy.mil/local/lhd2/.