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Newport News Daily Press
December 3, 2007
Pg. B5
By Sonja Barisic, Associated Press
NORFOLK -- The amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge was performing maritime security operations off Somalia when Tropical Cyclone Sidr hit southwestern Bangladesh.
The Norfolk-based ship rushed toward south Asia, traveling 3,000 miles over five days and reaching the Bangladesh coast on Thanksgiving Day to begin helping thousands of people left hungry, homeless and without clean water. The storm killed more than 3,200 people.
So far, the Kearsarge has transported more than 12,000 gallons of drinkable water - produced by its own distilling plant - and more than 78,000 pounds of medical supplies, blankets and food.
Medical teams from the ship also have been dispatched to provide care, said Capt. Frank Ponds, commodore of the seven-ship Kearsarge Strike Group.
"When I think about what happened to us during (Hurricane) Katrina and how other countries helped us, it was so rewarding for me to feel like we can give something back," Ponds said Friday in a telephone interview.
Roads washed out by flooding have made it difficult to reach many villages, but the Kearsarge's helicopters airlift supplies from ship to shore and from the mainland to remote areas. The Kearsarge's three high-speed boats - called LCACs, for "landing craft, air cushion" - also deliver cargo.
On Thursday, 13 defense attaches from Bangladesh, India, China, Turkey, Great Britain and Russia met with senior officers aboard the ship to learn about the Kearsarge's abilities to help the cyclone victims. The attaches toured the ship and watched sailors and Marines at work transporting supplies, Ponds said.
December 3, 2007
Pg. B5
By Sonja Barisic, Associated Press
NORFOLK -- The amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge was performing maritime security operations off Somalia when Tropical Cyclone Sidr hit southwestern Bangladesh.
The Norfolk-based ship rushed toward south Asia, traveling 3,000 miles over five days and reaching the Bangladesh coast on Thanksgiving Day to begin helping thousands of people left hungry, homeless and without clean water. The storm killed more than 3,200 people.
So far, the Kearsarge has transported more than 12,000 gallons of drinkable water - produced by its own distilling plant - and more than 78,000 pounds of medical supplies, blankets and food.
Medical teams from the ship also have been dispatched to provide care, said Capt. Frank Ponds, commodore of the seven-ship Kearsarge Strike Group.
"When I think about what happened to us during (Hurricane) Katrina and how other countries helped us, it was so rewarding for me to feel like we can give something back," Ponds said Friday in a telephone interview.
Roads washed out by flooding have made it difficult to reach many villages, but the Kearsarge's helicopters airlift supplies from ship to shore and from the mainland to remote areas. The Kearsarge's three high-speed boats - called LCACs, for "landing craft, air cushion" - also deliver cargo.
On Thursday, 13 defense attaches from Bangladesh, India, China, Turkey, Great Britain and Russia met with senior officers aboard the ship to learn about the Kearsarge's abilities to help the cyclone victims. The attaches toured the ship and watched sailors and Marines at work transporting supplies, Ponds said.