I recently spent some time in San Diego
attending my nephew’s graduation from the Naval Medical Center in Balboa
Park. He has really achieved so much in
such a short span of time – coming up on his 29th birthday he is an
accomplished Doctor in the Navy practicing Internal Medicine. Whenever he is put in a “Doctor situation” I
am always amazed at the wisdom and compassion that he exhibits for someone of
his age. I truly admire that in
him. Which is why I am not surprised
that he was chosen for a rotation on the USNS Mercy which departed San Diego in
May. First stop for the #Pacific
Partnership was Dili, Timor Leste which is where James flew to meet the ship in
early June. Timor Leste is located in
southeast Asia just northwest of Australia.
The Pacific Partnership is the largest annual multilateral humanitarian
assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the
Indo-Asia-Pacific. This year’s mission
will include more than 600 military and civilian personnel from the US,
Australia, New Zealand, Canada, UK, Malaysia, Singapore, Korea and Japan. I am delighted that he will be working
alongside professionals from all these countries. It is a great way to exchange information,
learn from others and establish long lasting friendships and bonds. He will be getting “some salt on his uniform”
as they say in the Navy.
James is certainly without the comforts of
home on the ship, having to bunk with several others and share communal showers
and toilets. Certainly not my style –
for me camping is the Holiday Inn LOL.
Another hardship is his cell phone which is virtually useless
there. Our only means of communication
is a special Mercy email address that was assigned him. He waits in line to use a computer in the
library for the chance to email us. In
addition, they have satellite service from the ship for a very brief phone call
home. You also stand in line for this!!! The only thing I stand in line for is
Starbucks. It kind of humbles you when
you realize that we take it for granted that we can speak to our loved ones
from our cars as we are driving from place to place or text them at the drop of
a hat. These sacrifices that our military personnel and their families make is
often gone unnoticed. I am proud of the
fact that I know James will live through these experiences and look back fondly
at a time in his life when he was able to serve his country alongside others
who also take pride in doing the same.
· In his honor and while he is serving on the
USNS Mercy, I have changed my FB cover
photo to the one of us taken together at his graduation. Every time I open my page, it is a remembrance
of that beautiful sunny day in Balboa ParkJ
For more information on the
#PacificPartnership, please visit their website: http://www.cpf.navy.mil/pacific-partnership
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