SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii (July 13, 2012) -- For its third straight year, the 643rd Engineer Company, 84th Engineer Battalion, 130th Engineer Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command gave its support to Operation Pacific Angel.
Operation Pacific Angel is a joint and combined mission led by the 13th Air Force to bring humanitarian aid and assistance to several different countries throughout the Pacific.
In the most recent mission, the 643rd Eng. Co., or 'Wolf Pack,' sent two Soldiers, Sgt. Brad Barnett and Spc. Abel Almager, both carpentry specialists, to the Nghe An providence in Vietnam for an eight-day mission to help refurbish the Xuan Lam Medical Clinic.
Barnett and Almager worked alongside Air Force, Navy, and host nation engineers to renovate and repair the aging hospital's roof, treatment rooms, and provide some much needed landscaping to the grounds.
Almager lent his hand to the painting of the exterior of the building, and he helped to place the concrete for the construction of a new parking lot. Barnett made his impression on the project through the cabinets he constructed for the new treatment rooms. Both Soldiers were proud to be able to do their part to help with noble cause.
This joint and combined effort not only served the local community by fixing the hospital, but gave these Soldiers an opportunity to work alongside other friendly forces, learning and sharing their technical skills, and building relationships with other nations.
"Whenever there was a problem, the locals would band together to help us out, and do their part to help renovate the medical center," said Barnett. "The locals all seemed really happy to see us."
Along with the hospital renovations conducted by the 17 engineers sent to this year's Operation Pacific Angel, the U.S. military sent medical personnel to provide aid to more than 5,000 Vietnamese patients.
Through their efforts, the two proud 'Wolf Pack' Soldiers and their many counterparts from the U.S. and Vietnam improved the lives of thousands of Nghe An residents.
Related Links:
Army.mil: Asia and Pacific News
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