In June of 2006, Brad Kenny, who was then director of the Rotary Club of Patong Beach, approached the US Naval Attaché's office at the US Embassy in Bangkok to suggest that crew from US ships visiting Phuket for rest and recreation might help with community service projects.
Unknown to Brad, the Embassy was looking for just such an opportunity. and a local in Phuket to organise both the US Navy's COMSERV (community service) and HANDCLASP projects. A long and continuing relationship started.
Since then, Brad has organised 99 COMSERV projects involving crew from more than 40 US Navy ships that have visited Phuket.
Crew from the USS Peleliu will conduct the 100th COMSERV project on October 23rd, just over the Sarasin Bridge at the Home & Life Foundation Orphanage, home to 26 Tsunami-affected or disadvantaged children.
Volunteers from among the Peleliu’s Marines and seamen will be joined by Royal Thai Navy volunteers in shoring up an eroding river bank to save several buildings. They will move some 12 tons of rock down to the river bank and into gabion cages.
On October 24, another group of Peleliu volunteers will go to Baan Ao Makham School near Kok Kloy to do some much-needed painting.
The Rotary Club of Phang Nga and The Rotary Club Andaman Phang Nga will provide lunch for the volunteers.
The USS Peleliu (LHA-5) is a Tarawa-class amphibious assault ship, named for the Battle of Peleliu during World War II. The Peleliu has visited Phuket before, in June 2006 and in November 2010, when crew also carried out COMSERVs.
Seventy-nine COMSERVs have been sponsored by the Rotary Club of Patong Beach ans 21 by the US Navy League in Phuket. The average cost of each COMSERV project is B12,000, making the contribution by the US Navy a total of B1.2 million over the years.
The average number of US Marine and Navy volunteers is 25 per COMSERV, for a total of 25,000 US Marines and seamen who have volunteered their time in Phuket.
The second US Navy project is HANDCLASP, whereby the US Navy gives out goods to organisations in need in the communities they visit.
Typically these include medical supplies, personal hygiene supplies, and sports equipment. The US Navy has carried out 37 Handclasp projects averaging B60,000 a time, for a total of more than B2.2 million in goods delivered to children's and women’s shelters, day care centres, orphanages and NGOs.
For more information visit the US Navy League at http://www.navyleaguephuket.org