USS New Orleans Sailors, Marines Volunteer at Cambodian Children's Shelter

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Dominique Pineiro, USS New Orleans Public Affairs

SIHANOUKVILLE, Cambodia (NNS) -- Sailors assigned to the amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD 18) and embarked Marines of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) participated in a community service project at the House of Family children's shelter Dec. 19.

The shelter is funded by the School of Public Health and Social Work of St. Elizabeth and serves as a refuge for HIV/AIDS positive orphans or vulnerable children (OVC).

Zuzka Vu, a social worker with the House of Family, said the shelter's staff helps ensure OVC affected by HIV/AIDS have access to clothing, water, sanitation and all the primary needs of HIV/AIDS patients.

Sailors and Marines helped make a stone walkway for the shelter. Afterwards they played games, danced and even provided basic medical treatment for the kids.

"Being here makes me feel like I'm giving back something very important," said Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Joseph Samonte. "It's a big difference between what we have (in America) and what they have and it always feels good to help out."

Lt. Paul Armstrong, USS New Orleans' command chaplain, said it's important for Sailors and Marines to interact with the local population while on liberty.

"This organization is really making a difference in the community," he said. "It's part of our mission and is one of the things we really need to do."

Samonte echoed Armstrong's sentiment saying he was grateful to be involved with the organization.

"Working with them helps paint a better picture of the local community," said Samonte. "It helps us get away from the beaches and tourist areas."

Vu said the shelter does not get many volunteers and she appreciated the visit from the Sailors and Marines and wished they would come by and play with the children more often.

"I wish they could come by 40 hours a week and play with the children," she said. "They're really helping us and giving us a break."

New Orleans deployed Nov. 14 in support of the nation's Maritime Strategy and is currently conducting theater security cooperation missions in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR).

New Orleans, the amphibious dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) and the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8), along with the embarked 11th MEU, make up the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group (ARG).

The mission of the Makin Island ARG is to help provide deterrence, promote peace and security, preserve freedom of the seas and provide humanitarian/disaster response as well as supporting the Navy's Maritime Strategy when forward deployed.

The 7th Fleet AOR includes more than 52 million square miles of the Pacific and Indian oceans, stretching from the international date line to the east coast of Africa, and from the Kuril Islands in the north to the Antarctic in the south.

More than half of the world's population lives within the 7th Fleet AOR. In addition, more than 80 percent of that population lives within 500 miles of the oceans, which means this is an inherently maritime region.