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Thailand celebrates Coronation Day on May 5
(Photo courtesy
of the Bureau of the Royal Household)
The Kingdom of Thailand celebrates Wan Chatramongkhol (Coronation
Day) on Friday, May 5 for King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great, the world’s
longest reigning monarch. Long Live the King!
The Kingdom of Thailand celebrates Wan Chatramongkhol
(Coronation Day) on Friday, May 5 which marks the 60th anniversary of His
Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great’s ascension to the throne. The day
is celebrated as a national holiday, and all government offices and
commercial banks will be closed to observe the day.
During his coronation, the new King of Thailand, the Ninth in the Chakri
Dynasty (Rama IX), took a sacred oath “to rule with Righteousness, for the
Benefit and Happiness of the Siamese People” which He has done
magnificently, garnering tremendous respect not only from his own people but
the world-at-large.
King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great is the world’s longest reigning monarch.
Long Live the King!
His Majesty the King, after studying in Europe, returned to Thailand and was
crowned King during an elaborate and highly intricate ceremony that
out-shone all previous coronations in Thailand.
The Coronation Ceremony reinforces the stature of the Kings of Thailand. The
first such elaborate ceremony was performed when Pho Khun Phamuang succeeded
Pho Khun Bangklangthao as the ruling King of Muang Sukhothai. Phaya Lithai,
a former leader in Sukhothai, left a historical record in stone describing
the coronation ceremony in Sukhothai at Wat Srikhum.
In the beginning of the Ratanakosin era, the first King in the Chakri
Dynasty (King Buddha Yot Fa Chulalokmaharach) took the title of Rama I and
moved the capital of Siam from Thonburi to the opposite bank of the Chao
Phraya River, and constructed Krung Ratanakosin (Bangkok).
In the process of building the Royal Palace and Wat Prakaew (Temple of the
Emerald Buddha) the first King in the House of Chakri refined the coronation
ceremony, establishing important protocol that has lasted to this day. All
successive Kings who did not follow the strictures of the coronation
ceremony would be unable to assume the term “Phrabat”. This title precedes
the King’s title of “Somdej Phrachaoyuhua”, and more significantly, the
symbol of the nine-tiered umbrella would also not be permissible or
officially recognized.
The elaborate coronation ceremony of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the
Great included all the ancient rituals required for assuming the full title
and the nine-tiered umbrella. King Bhumibol Adulyadej then bestowed the
honor posthumously on His brother King Ananda Mahidol. King Bhumibol
Adulyadej’s benevolent act raised King Ananda Mahidol’s regal status from
seven to a nine-tiered umbrella.
During the reign of King Mongkut (Rama IV), Buddhist monks and Brahmin
priests were incorporated into the coronation ceremony to conduct rituals to
sanctify the auspicious occasion. Previously the ceremony was arranged and
conducted by the Royal Palace staff and members of the Royal Household.
The annual remembrance of the coronation ceremony is currently a three day
affair, starting with a ritual “tham bun” ceremony on May 3 to honor the
King’s ancestors. Later on the first day, another ceremony is performed,
whereby flags of honour are issued to distinguish various military units.
The following day, Buddhist ceremonies continue with chanting rituals,
prayers and Brahman priests announcing the auspicious occasion forthcoming
the next day (May 5).
On the 5th of May, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej conducts a
merit-making ceremony, presenting offerings to Buddhist monks, and leads a
“Wienthien” ceremony, walking three times around sacred grounds at the
Temple of the Emerald Buddha.
In the evening the King conducts another sacred ceremony: changing the
yellow cloth on the Emerald Buddha, the guardian symbol protecting the Thai
people, which was transferred from Thonburi to Wat Phra Kaew by Rama I.
Many rooms in the Royal Palace are opened for public viewing on Coronation
Day. Auspicious ceremonies are performed and displays depicting Royal
achievements are exhibited to reconfirm the King’s stature.
Her Serene Highness Mom Chao Phansawalee Kitiyakorn visits Buddha Relic at Khao Kheow Open Zoo
HSH Mom Chao Phansawalee Kitiyakorn paid her
respects to the Buddha Relic, and took a photo with the zoo
administrators as a souvenir.
Her Serene Highness Mom Chao Phansawalee
Kitiyakorn attended the Buddha Relic prayer ceremony, and gave a
blessing speech welcoming all of the groups.
Suchada Tupchai
Her Serene Highness Mom Chao Phansawalee Kitiyakorn visited Khao
Kheow Open Zoo on April 20 to pay her respects to the Buddha Relic,
which was on display at the zoo throughout the month of April.
 The
Hera Pera parade led Buddhists to pay their respects to the Buddha
Relic.
Director of the Zoological Park Organization Sophon Damnui, Khao Kheow
Open Zoo director Suriya Saengpong and members of the zoo management
were on hand to welcome Her Serene Highness and her entourage.
Sophon said that display of the Buddha Relic, organized by Buddhist
patriarchs from Sri Lanka and Thailand, had attracted 60,000 devotees in
the period April 1 to 17. Ceremonies organized at the relic included an
intake of 120 novice monks, a candle procession, and sermons and
meditation.
Her Serene Highness led devotees around the Buddha relic with lit
candles in their hands, and allowed zoo officials to pour water in a
Songkran ceremony for prosperity.
Pattaya shines as venue for 55th PATA annual conference
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
The 55th PATA Annual Conference wrapped up on April 26 with activities, a
cocktail reception at Siam Bayshore and a closing evening ceremony at the
Royal Cliff beach Resort.
 Stressing
the importance of the annual event, Deputy Prime Minister Suwat said tourism
is a key to resolving the present global changes that are greatly affecting
the economic and social development as well as the safety of the people of
the world, as it brings people together in peace and happiness. The growth
of the tourism industry throughout all regions is having a positive affect
on the growth of the economies of those countries, bringing employment,
careers and income.
As for Thailand, the Ministry of Tourism and Sport has laid out long-term
strategic plans for 2004-2008 focusing on six main points of development,
namely human resources, attractions, public utilities, communications,
management, and research and development.
The kingdom is also playing a part in reducing economic gaps between
Thailand and other countries and cooperation through ACMECS: the
Ayeyawady–Chao Phraya–Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy. This brings
together the five countries of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand
to promote peace, security and stability among the member countries and
further cooperation with non-member countries.
The PATA (Pacific Asia Travel Association) conference is a major
international event where government and private sector tourism
organizations have the opportunity to meet and exchange ideas and views on
tourism. This year attendees from more than 40 countries were in Pattaya for
the conference. (Turn to the center pages for more on the closing ceremony.)
Transvestites line up for Miss Tiffany’s Universe contest on May 19
Vimolrat Singnikorn
May 19 will see the finals of Miss Tiffany’s Universe 2006 take place at
the Tiffany Show Theater, the official announcement having been made at a
press conference conducted by Dr Seree Wongmontha in Bangkok late last
month.
Dr Seree, a member of the organizing committee for the event, made the
announcement during a briefing at the InterContinental Hotel on April 27,
which was also attended by Tiffany’s assistant managing director Alisa
Phantusak and Deputy Mayor Wutisak Rermkitkarn.
Some of the contestants in
this year’s Miss Tiffany’s Universe Contest attended the contest
announcement at the Presidential 1 Inter-Continental Hotel in Bangkok.
Representatives of sponsors Hard Rock Hotel, Royal Garden
Plaza and Fairtex Sports Club and Resort also attended, as did Thiptantree
Rujiranon, Miss Tiffany’s Universe 2005. A performance from the Tiffany’s
cast was a feature of the media conference.
Parinya Charoenpol, better known as Nong Tum, the boxer who changed his sex
and whose life story was portrayed in the movie Beautiful Boxer, will lead
the sporting activities sector of the event which will take place the day
before the finals at Fairtex Sports Club and Resort. Nong Tum, who was
present at the announcement ceremony, said that transvestites are not only
beautiful, they can play sports and learn self-defense the same as anyone
else.
On May 16 there will be 30 contestants taking part in a water sports event
at Hard Rock Hotel, and Royal Garden Plaza will also host an event in
connection with the Ripley’s Believe It Or Not museum.
The complete range of activities organized for the Miss Tiffany’s Universe
contestants will take place over the period May 15 to 19.
Activities begin with the first round of the contest in the evening of May
15, when 30 contestants will be selected to go forward to the second round.
The finals will be on May 19. The winning prize will be 100,000 baht, a
Toyota Yaris, a sash and crown, and gifts from the supporters. The first and
second runners up will receive 40,000 baht and 20,000 baht.
Rolling maps being considered for benefit of tourists
Vimolrat Singnikorn
A meeting to discuss the viability of a rolling map for Pattaya City was
chaired by Deputy Mayor Wattana Jantanawaranon on April 25, with managing
director of Major Network Co Ltd Anuchit Wanitsermkul explaining how the map
would work.
 Anuchit
Wanitsermkul, managing director of Major Network Co Ltd., presents the
proposal for rolling map cabinets to be installed in Pattaya City.
Anuchit said that the map, which would be installed at eight locations or
more in the city, would be provided free of charge. The maps will be changed
every three months, because exposure to the sun will cause them to fade.
Major Network Co will undertake the expenses, installation and maintenance
for a one-year period. After that time, if city hall thinks that the maps
are of benefit to Pattaya, the project will be handed over to the city. If
the maps are considered to be irrelevant, they will be removed.
Anuchit said that the rolling map is made out of fiberglass, has an
attractive design, and is robust. The map measures 65 centimeters wide by
250 centimeters high. There is a clock at the top of the cabinet and a light
inside, both powered by solar energy.
The intention is to install the maps at major tourist locations in Pattaya.
Hotels will be show together with their telephone numbers, and companies
will be able to place advertisements.
Wattana said that a meeting would be called to discuss the usefulness of the
project and the ways in which it would benefit tourists and the public, and
make a decision later.
Revenue Department cooperates with Burapha University over training for mid-level officials
Piyavadee Suvannahong
The Revenue Department is working in cooperation with the Commerce College
at Burapha University to upgrade the skills of Ministry of Finance
administrators in the Eastern region, and on April 27 at the Long Beach
Resort Hotel a training course was officially inaugurated that will run
through May 19.
 Assistant
Professor Dr. Suda Suwanapirom - director of the Graduate School of
Commerce, Burapha University speaks at the training session set up for mid
level government officers from the Finance Ministry.
Training director of the Revenue Department Sitthichai Vacharapintu gave a
lecture to middle level administrators, saying that the intention is to
develop human resources within the ministry. The officials will then be more
readily able to deal closely with the general public on a range of services,
and to progress to higher levels and leadership positions within the
ministry structure.
Assistant Professor Dr. Suda Suwanapirom - director of the Graduate School
of Commerce, Burapha University said that this training session had over 50
middle level government officers from the Finance Ministry, and that the
project had been proposed by the Revenue Department who had asked Burapha
University to provide the support needed to allow their officers to proceed
to higher career levels.
Pattaya will once again host major regional travel show
Narisa Nitikarn
Pattaya will once again be host of the IT&CMA travel industry show,
following the city’s successful hosting of the event last year, the
first time it had been held in Pattaya.
Darren Ng, managing director of TTG Asia Media Pte Ltd, met with Deputy
Mayor Verawat Khakhay on April 26 at Pattaya District Office to request
help with the organizing of the 14th IT&CMA (Incentive Travel &
Conventions, Meetings Asia) and 9th CTW Asia-Pacific (Corporate Travel
World) events, scheduled for October 10-12 this year.
 Darren
Ng., managing director of TTG Asia Media Pte Ltd. met Deputy Mayor
Verawat Khakhay to prepare for the 14th IT & CMA (Incentive Travel &
Conventions, Meetings Asia) and 9th CTW Asia-Pacific (Corporate Travel
World) to be held in October in Pattaya.
IT&CMA is the region’s premier meetings and incentive travel show and is
attended by some 1,500 delegates from 40 countries.
Ng said that last year IT&CMA was held for the first time in Pattaya and
had been a great success. He said he thought Pattaya was an appropriate
choice to host the event again, as it is a major tourist city within the
countries participating and has all the facilities to host world level
events. Ng said that this year he would like to see the city support the
event by organizing activities as it did last year, such as a golf
competition for delegates.
Verawat said it is a great honor that Pattaya is to host such a major
event for the second year in succession. Three years ago Thailand hosted
IT&CMA at Bangkok. He added that the city would be happy to support the
event.
TTG Asia Media Pte Ltd is a leading company in the region that provides
news and data on travel and tourism, and is highly active and respected
in both print media and exhibitions.
National police shut down illegal German porn web site
Pattaya police chief temporarily transferred
after top-level bust here in Pattaya
Boonlua Chatree
Pol Col Somnuek Changate, commander of Pattaya Municipal Police, has
been temporarily transferred to another posting following a top-level police
raid on premises in Pattaya used by a leading German pornographic website.
 Gerd
Cornelius and his porn ring harem were arrested for producing live internet
sex shows in Pattaya.
The raid was conducted in the evening of April 24. Pol Gen Seripisut
Temiyawej, inspector general of National Police Headquarters, along with top
ranking police officers involved in technology crimes, had arranged for a
search warrant to enter the premises of house 844/37 at Holiday Paradise
Village, in South Pattaya Soi 17.
Entering the elegant single-story house, the team of top police officers and
50 other officers found technology that had been used to show lewd and
obscene images and transmit live sex shows over the internet.
There were four bedrooms, a living room, and two rooms next to the swimming
pool. In the first of the two rooms police found a naked woman performing
indecent acts in front of a camera attached to a desktop computer. They
arrested her and told her to get dressed. In the next room police found a
naked woman and a transvestite performing a live sex show in front of a
camera attached to a computer. The officers also told them to get dressed,
and placed them under arrest.
Police found 15 desktop computers and two notebook computers, eight web cams
and equipment, 11 other webcams, 20 dildos and a bankbook detailing 5
million baht in transactions. They also found 70 grams of dried marijuana.
Three German nationals named as Gerd Cornelius, 42, Miss Katja Cornelius,
22, and Mrs Tanja Cornelius, 42, were questioned. All had lived in Thailand
for more than 10 years and were fluent in Thai. Their only occupation was
running the website, which had been operating for a number of years and was
available worldwide except for Thailand. Anyone who wanted to view the
images had to pay first, with most payments being made through bank
transfers. Once payment was received, access to still images and live sex
videos was opened. The site had reportedly become the most popular of its
kind in Germany.
Police questioned the four Thai suspects, Miss Supaporn Prateepmuong, 21,
Miss Patra Kaewmaat, 22, Miss Saengdao Samaphech, 21, and Mr Kuokul Srichan,
27, who admitted that they were hired by Gerd Cornelius to provide naked sex
shows, for which he paid between 1,000 and 3,000 baht per session.
Pol Lt Gen Tavornsak said that the arrests were a result of Pol Gen
Sareepisut’s policies and the policies of National Police Headquarters to
clean up lewd activities and arrest all responsible no matter what the
methods used. Police had been investigating the group for about a month.
Police charged the group with selling lewd images for commercial gain, among
other charges in violation of Article 287 of the Penal Code. Mrs Tanja
Cornelius told the officers that the marijuana belonged to her, and she was
also charged with the possession of a Class 5 drug.
Following the arrests, Pol Lt Gen Jongrak Juthanon, commander of Region 2
police issued a Region 2 police order appointing a fact finding committee to
investigate whether Pattaya Municipal Police had been negligent, resulting
in police from another region taking action in carrying out the raid and
making the arrests.
He appointed Pol Maj Gen Pitak Charusombat, deputy commander of Region 2
police as chairman of the committee, Pol Col Theerayut Thamsaroj, deputy
commander of Region 2 administration, Pol Lt Col Kampol Lilaprapaporn and
Pol Col Phaitoon Pramuansilp as committee members.
At the first meeting, an order was issued transferring Pol Col Somnuk
Changate, commander of Pattaya Municipal Police, to Region 2 police
headquarters for 30 days, with Pol Col Nopadol Wonglom appointed as
commander of Pattaya Municipal Police. If it is found that local police had
benefited or been paid off, disciplinary action would be taken.
Popular candidate for village headman election is assassinated on his way home
Boonlua Chatree
A man who was planning to stand as a candidate in the Huay Yai village
headman election was assassinated as he drove home from a neighbor’s
ordination ceremony.
Banglamung police received a report at 1 a.m. on April 22 that a man had
been shot dead at 10 Muu 2, Ban Nok Road near Huay Kratek Canal, in Huay
Yai.
 Huay
Yai village headman candidate Bunyuon Intai was assassinated on his way home
from a neighbor’s ordination ceremony.
Commander of Banglamung police Pol Col Nopadol Sornsamran led a team of
officers to the scene where they found a Toyota Vigo had crashed into a
house with such force that the car was half-buried in the building. In the
driver’s seat was the body of Bunyuon Intai, 43, a resident of Muu 12 in
Huay Yai. He was lying against the steering wheel and had multiple gunshot
wounds to the head.
On the right side of the bronze colored vehicle were green paint marks
apparently from a scrape with another vehicle. The front of the car was
severely damaged and the windscreen was smashed. Police found a shotgun
shell on the ground.
Officers questioned Prayut Buchu, 50, village headman of Huay Sai, and Mrs
Pranee Intai, 40, the wife of the deceased, who had both been in the car at
the time of the crash. Pranee said she had gone with her husband to the
neighbor’s ordination ceremony. On the way home her husband was driving, she
was sat in the front passenger seat and Prayut was in the rear of the
Toyota. As they were driving back a green Mitsubishi carrying three men came
up alongside and scraped the Toyota. The left side passenger in the
Mitsubishi, who was wearing a white shirt and had short curly hair opened
the window and fired. Pranee put her head down before the Toyota crashed
into the house and the assailants sped off.
Neighbors told police that Bunyuon was a good-natured man who would always
help others, and was well liked in the neighborhood. When Bunyuon announced
that he was going to run for village headman of Huay Yai at the next
election, the locals were going to support him. The deceased had a landfill
business and had money. He liked to go to local events and support the
events financially as a way of gaining votes. Police feel that these may be
the reasons for the killing.
Bulgarian burglar caught
on hotel CCTV system
Boonlua Chatree
A Bulgarian man who broke into a hotel guestroom and stole a notebook
computer was captured in the act by the hotel’s closed-circuit television
cameras and arrested when he made a second burglary attempt.
Manager of the Lek Hotel Prataan Atamana, 48, reported to police at 4 a.m.
on April 26 that a foreign national had broken into a guest room and stolen
the property of a foreign tourist. The manager said the hotel CCTV system
had recorded the incident and hotel staff had apprehended the culprit.
On arrival at the Pattaya Second Road hotel, police officers found that
Anusit Buralom, 32, a hotel security guard had apprehended Kava Tourab Puiz,
a 38-year-old Bulgarian national. Puiz denied the accusations saying that he
had gone up to see a friend, but Prataan was adamant that Puiz had broken
into the room and stolen a notebook computer a few days previously. The
closed circuit video cameras had recorded the incident and today he had
returned to commit a similar act. The manager provided footage of the
incident and police arrested Puiz on charges of burglary.
Security guard Anusit told police that Puiz offered him 1,000 baht to let
him go, but he refused because he was a security guard and could not do such
a thing and told his manager about it.
Teenager caught carrying gun and ammo at Bali Hai Pier
Boonlua Chatree
Police searched a number of youths around Bali Hai Pier in the early hours
of April 20 and found one of them to be carrying a handgun and two rounds of
ammunition.
The search was carried out by Pattaya crime suppression inspector Pol Lt Col
Sutham Chawseethong and a team of officers, who saw a group of five youths
acting suspiciously, and stopped them.
On searching the belt bag of 18-year-old Apiwatt Janpheng, a resident of
Kamphengphech province, the officers found a gun and two shotgun shells. The
officers also searched Somsak Chaikong, 24. They found nothing illegal, but
he did admit accompanying Apiwatt.
Police charged the pair with carrying an unlicensed gun and bullets in
public. Officers took in another three youths for a record check.
Tradition observed at Navy base with paying of respects to former commanders
Patcharapol Panrak
Commander-in-chief of the Air and Coastal Defense Command at Sattahip,
Maj Gen Chaiwat Iamsamut, presided over the Songkran festivities for the
naval base on April 17 with a ceremony that allowed officers, men and
families to pay their respects to former commanders-in-chief.
 Maj.
Gen. Chaiwat Iamsamut, officers, soldiers, and families made merit by giving
alms to the monks.
Food was placed in the bowls of monks in the morning, and prayers were said
at Ruan Thai Hall, beside the water reservoir.
During Songkran this year all living former commanders-in-chief were
honored, with the pouring of water, presenting of floral garlands and
bestowing of blessings for a long life and good health. Senior officers also
poured water to bless Maj Gen Chaiwat. The release of 50,000 freshwater fish
into the reservoir formed part of the merit making ceremony.
Maj Gen Chaiwat said that observing tradition was important during Songkran
as it helps to pass the Thai culture on through the officer and serving men
ranks, to their families and so on to the younger generation.
All officers of the deputy commander in chief,
chief of operations administrators, and all other officers poured water to
bless Major General Chaiwat Iamsamut (right).
ALCSG Sailors give quality time to Pattaya Orphanage
Photographer’s Mate Airman James R. Evans, USS
Abraham Lincoln Public Affairs
Sailors from the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) Carrier Strike Group took part
in a community service (COMSERV) project at the Pattaya Orphanage April 22.
Forty-seven sailors helped the staff of Pattaya Orphanage relocate their
nursery to a new facility by carrying supplies and furniture, as well as
bringing a little joy to the lives of the children who live there.
Like any other COMSERV project, the reasons sailors had for wanting to help
out were as diverse as the sailors participating.
“I’ve always wanted to do a COMSERV but I’ve never had a chance to,” said
Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Michael Downey of Strike Fighter Squadron
(VFA) 137. “It felt really good to do something for someone else, and it’s
very humbling for me to realize how good I had it when I was a kid,” he
said.
For Storekeeper Seaman Panebi Smith, the calling is a spiritual one.
“I’m a minister and I like to be involved in community service. Anything
that gives me the opportunity to meet and help other people, whether it’s
spiritual, physical, or charitable is a real blessing,” he said.
After the work was done, the group took a break to spend some quality time
with the children of Pattaya Orphanage, enjoying a few tough games of soccer
and breaking down language barriers before returning to the Lincoln.
Latvian local government delegation calls on city hall
Vimolrat Singnikorn
A group of local government officials from Latvia made a visit to Pattaya
City on April 24 and were welcomed by Mayor Niran Watthanasartsathorn and
city hall officials.
The 25-strong Latvian delegation was led by Didzis Konusevskis, chairman of
Saldus city council, with Marvel Holidays (Thailand) Co Ltd making the
travel arrangements.
The officials were here to study the workings of Pattaya City’s
administration system, and were particularly interested in the way in which
the local educational system was managed.
Mayor Niran
Watthanasartsathorn welcomed local administrators from Latvia at Pattaya
City Hall.
Konusevskis said the purpose of the visit was to exchange experiences and to
cement relationships at a local level between the two countries.
Mayor Niran said that Pattaya was pleased to welcome the Latvian visitors
and to show them the administrative workings of the city and to exchange
experiences. The Latvian visitors were interested in seeing the systems used
by city hall to manage Pattaya’s annual budget.
Latvia and Thailand enjoy good diplomatic and trade relations and tourism
from Latvia is growing.
ALCSG Sailors Paint Children’s Home
Photographer’s Mate 3rd Class (AW) M. Jeremie Yoder,
USS Abraham Lincoln Public Affairs
A group of sailors from the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group (ALCSG)
spent a portion of their liberty time in Thailand at the Redemptorist Street
Kids Home east of Pattaya, April 21.
Culinary Specialist 2nd Class Rick Ruiz lends a hand in another community relations
project, this one at the Nikom-Sang-Ton-Aeng Rayong 3 School in Thailand
with a group of volunteers from the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS
Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). (U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate Airman
Geoffrey Lewis)
The sailors painted, completed odd jobs, and played with the children at the
home.
The visit, one of several command-sponsored community service projects
(COMSERV), gave sailors an opportunity to serve others. The event also
provided many sailors an opportunity to see a different facet of their host
country.
“I went because it was a chance to see a part of Thailand that I would not
otherwise get to see,” said Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class Christina Gillen, a
sailor from Lincoln’s reactor laboratory division.
Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class (SW) Hillari Anderson, another sailor from
reactor department’s laboratory division, said she went because she thought
her time was better spent at the children’s home than it would have been
walking around the streets in Pattaya.
The project was organized and hosted by John Melahee, a retired U.S. Navy
chief gunner’s mate and president of the Navy League in Thailand.
The children who live at the home come from a wide variety of backgrounds,
but in that variety there remains one constant: their home life was not
healthy, said Fr. Larry Pageant, the home’s director. Some of the children
live at the home as their permanent residence, while others stay there
temporarily as the government works with the families to address issues at
home.
Airman Jason D. Cox, a sailor from Lincoln’s fuels division said, “We heard
that a lot of the kids had come off of the streets. Originally some of them
had even been sold as sex slaves.”
While many of the children had suffered a horrible past, they were having
the time of their life helping the sailors work around the school or playing
soccer and other games in the rain.
“After we finished working, we were able to interact with the kids a little
bit more, to start playing with them. It was just fun,” Cox said. “They may
not understand English, but they certainly knew the fundamentals of having
fun.”
While this was the first community service project for many sailors, they
said it was time well spent. As Machinist’s Mate 1st (SW) Class Diana J.
Godal of reactor laboratory division put it, “I thought it would be
worthwhile and interesting ... and it was.”
USS Abraham Lincoln moors off Laem Chabang
Captain Andrew McCawley,
captain of CVN–72 presents a gift to Rear Admiral Komin Komutanont.
Patcharapol Panrak
The US Navy arrived in town on April 20, when Aircraft Carrier Fleet 9,
led by Rear Admiral John W Goodwin moored off Laem Chabang commercial port.
Accompanying aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln were the frigates USS
Mobile Bay, USS Russell and USS Shoup, which were here through April 24.
Rear Admiral Goodwin, along with captains Andrew McCawley and Thomas Carney,
and Commander James W Kilby paid a visit to Vice Admiral Chanchai
Charoensuwan, commander of Sattahip Naval Base.
Welcomed to the base’s conference room by Deputy Commander Rear Admiral
Komin Komutanont, the visitors exchanged ideas and experience in deep sea
activities which need modifying to meet present needs to protect the
interests of the country, pursue international criminals, and suppress
pirates and piracy. The group also exchanged gifts and signed the guest
book.
The USS Abraham Lincoln carries F-14s and many other classes of aircraft for
close and mid-range combat. The frigates carry many types of weaponry
including Tomahawks, Harpoons and torpedoes for conflict with submarines.
Lincoln makes history pier side in Laem Chabang
Journalist 1st Class (SW) Joaquin Juatai, USS
Abraham Lincoln Public Affairs
USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) made history April 20, mooring in Laem
Chabang, Thailand, the first time a U.S. aircraft carrier has done so.
Previously, carriers visiting Thailand anchored off the coast and used
liberty launches; a lengthy and dangerous way for sailors to go ashore in
Laem Chabang, said Master Chief Boatswain’s Mate (SW) Robert W. Dean.
The Nimitz-class aircraft
carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) pulls into Laem Chabang, Thailand for a
brief port visit. (U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 3rd Class James R.
McGury)
According to Dean, a Navy harbor pilot from Commander, Fleet Activities
Yokosuka, being pierside is a much better alternative.
“You’re giving sailors a safer atmosphere for getting ashore,” said Dean,
who was specifically sent to Lincoln to assist the ship in getting into and
out of Laem Chabang safely.
In the past, the liberty launch system presented a much more dangerous
shore-to-ship evolution, as the prevailing winds off the coast of the
Pattaya Beach area tend to pick up in the evenings, said Dean.
“You had to wade in to shore [from the liberty boats] in the past,” he
added.
Lincoln visited Thailand as part of a scheduled Western Pacific deployment.
Sailors enjoyed liberty, participated in community service projects and took
advantage of tours offered by Lincoln’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation
division during the port visit.
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