Sailors from USS Emory S Land, Members of RTMC Volunteer at Nursery Center

Sailors from submarine tender USS Emory S Land (AS 39) and members of the Royal Thai Marine Corps (RTMC) came together to improve the quality of life for children at the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) 10 Nursery Center July 31.

The nursery center and kindergarten is responsible for all children between the ages 2-4 years old whose parents are serving on active duty for RTMC.

“The parents of these children are gone for long periods of time protecting Thailand and we’re here to look after them,” said Nantanat Boonyapong, the projects coordinator.

Sailors began the day working hand-in-hand with Royal Thai marines to clean up and repaint the fence surrounding the school.

“It was a great experience to volunteer with the Thai Marines,” said Navy Diver 1st Class Joseph Carrington, assigned to Land, “The job went a lot smoother since we were able to work together.”

The fence painting is part of an ongoing project sponsored by Glenn Defense Marine (Asia) Co. Ltd. (GDMA) to renovate and rebuild the structures surrounding the school. Land’s religious ministries department worked with the nursery and GDMA to put the community service project (COMSERV) together.

“We’re grateful to the U.S. Navy for volunteering their help today it was such a blessing to have them here,” said Boonyapong “Our facility looks much better thanks to the Sailors, Royal Thai marines and our teachers here will remember who was responsible for the improvements.”

After the work was done, the Sailors played games and shared smiles with the children at the school.

“Playing with the children was my favorite part of the day,” said Carrington. “I’m happy to do all the work outside but I really look forward to putting smiles on the children’s faces.”

Land is in Thailand conducting a coordinated tended mooring with USS Buffalo (SSN 715) as part of a theater security cooperation and good will mission in the region. Land, homeported in Diego Garcia, is on an extended deployment to Guam, conducting coordinated tended moorings and afloat maintenance in the U.S. 7th fleet area of operations.

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Naval Today Staff, August 2, 2012; Image: US Navy