Sunday, May 09, 2010

Americans in Hong Kong Boost Patriot Sailors


By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Richard Doolin

May 9, 2010 - HONG KONG (NNS) -- Sailors from mine countermeasures ship USS Patriot (MCM 7) experienced Hong Kong American Women Association's Meals-in-the-Home (MITH) during the ship's visit to Hong Kong May 2-6.

The MITH program is dedicated to helping service members feel welcome in Hong Kong.

Steve and Barbara Watson invited five Sailors to dinner aboard their yacht, the "Northern Sun."

"You guys do a job that I don't think a lot of people say thank you for, and we'd like to be able to do that," said Steve Watson. "So, this is our little way of saying 'Thanks guys, thanks for what you do,'" he said.

The Watsons have lived in Hong Kong for 10 years adn Barbara's father was a Navy captain.

"It's a pleasure," she sai. "Makes me feel more at home. Cause we're not at home either. So, it's good to have other Americans here," she said.

"I think it was pretty relaxing. It was pretty entertaining," said Logistics Specialist 1st Class Patrick Lampley. "We got to enjoy the company of some people that have been away from the United States for quite some time. I mean, me myself, I have been away from there for a while. So, although it's not the same, it's kind of cool having these people invite us into their home and share a meal with us, share history."

Patriot is one of four mine-countermeasures ships forward-deployed to Sasebo, Japan. The ship's crew reports to Rear Adm. Richard Landolt, commander, Amphibious Force 7th Fleet, who has his headquarters in Okinawa, Japan. Patriot is on their spring patrol.

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