Relief Aid Met with Extreme Gratitude, Tears
Bangladesh-
U.S. Forces on scene in the aftermath of Cyclone Sidr are being greeted with heartfelt appreciate, gratitude and more than a few happy tears. Working with the local victims of the devastation to prevent illness, the spread of disease and bacteria, and simply helping meet basic needs has been the order of the day since the November 15th, 2007 storm.
Tropical Cyclone Sidr victims are receiving medical treatment, food, clean drinking water, and expressing their gratitude very vocally. “With all of the supplies we are delivering, we are repeatedly being greeted with gratitude and genuine warmth by the people of Bangladesh:†stated Rear Admiral Carol M. Pottenger.
Admiral Pottenger, Commander of Navy TF 76 held a briefing yesterday from the desk of the medical Naval vessel USS Kearsarge.
Task Force 76 took up station off of the coast of Bangladesh on November 23rd, including the vessel U.S.S. Kearsarge, and the Twenty Second Marine Expeditionary Unit.  With strong support for the U.S. Agency for International Development, the presence of TF 76 has flown over twenty sorties and transported over nine thousand gallons of clean drinking water to the area.
In addition to preventing water borne infection and illness, the U.S.S. Kearsarge is also a medical surgical hospital ship, and has treated and evaluated so far over six hundred cyclone victims, mainly for water contamination and trauma concerns.
Disaster relief is nothing new to TF 76, or the Navy or U.S. Marines at large. “Our Navy Task Force and Marine Expeditionary Force are skilled and very good at providing disaster help,†said Admiral Pottenger. “This type of duty is very rewarding for every Marine and Navy Sailor involved,†she said.
