Guam Sailors Volunteer to Clean Up Local Parks

By Electrician’s Mate 3rd Class Claire Farin, USS Frank Cable Public Affairs

AGAT, Guam (NNS) -- Sailors assigned to submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40) and various commands of Naval Base Guam (NBG) gathered together for the International Coastal Cleanup of Local Parks Sept. 24.

Sailors, along with their family members, picked up trash along the coastal line, cut bushes and trimmed invasive vegetation to clear the pathway while others planted tree seedlings in the area.

"It's a great opportunity to give back to the community," said Chief Navy Counselor John Jeffries, assigned to NBG, the overall volunteer coordinator for this local event. "It's a good time to go out and meet interesting people in the community and the different commands."

Along with Frank Cable and NBG, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25 (HSC 25), the Naval Hospital and the Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station (NCTS) also joined the coastal clean-up effort.

"I think everybody is pitching in no matter what their level of motivation is," said Construction Electrician 2nd Class Joel Glanz from HSC 25. "It's definitely been a positive outcome."

A major part of the clean up focused on maintenance of Asan Beach Parks and the War in the Pacific National Historical Park at Ga'am point. Located in the southern coast of the island of Guam, Ga'am point was one of the landing sites used by U.S. forces to liberate Guam during World War II.

"This site was a very significant point during the battle to liberate Guam in 1944 where the fiercest fighting of the battle was done," said Ben Hayes, the local park ranger. "There are pretty significant cultural resources here including guns and pillboxes, which we are helping to maintain today."

"I am really happy and honored that we have such a big turn out for the National Public Lands Day," said Hayes.

Frank Cable conducts maintenance and support of submarines and surface vessels deployed in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility.