A New Life
RICHARD C. BARNARD, Editor in Chief
Soraya Tampalan stares into the camera of Chief Photographer’s
Mate Don Bray (p. 42), a serene young lady contemplating a
new life in Jolo, Philippines. Born with a severely cleft lip,
she dropped out of school in the third grade because of the
constant teasing of other children. “They would laugh
and then throw stones at me,” said Soraya. “I want
to go back to school and get an education.” Thanks to
the work of three U.S. military surgeons and a host of nurses
and technicians, Soraya, 13, is on her way.
Soraya is one of almost 200,000 people in the Western Pacific
and Southeast Asia whose lives were touched by the crew of
the USNS Mercy during a five-month tour to the Philippines,
Bangladesh, Indonesia and East Timor. The purpose of the mission,
which ended Sept. 1, was to foster goodwill and cultivate new
friendships in areas where insurgency and piracy are constant
threats and terrorist recruiters have been effective.
Deputy Editor Peter Atkinson reports (p. 40) the Mercy mission
was an international effort that included medical personnel
from such countries as Canada, India and Bangladesh, and relief
organizations ranging from Project HOPE, which was founded
by a U.S. Navy doctor, to the Tzu Chi Foundation, a spiritual
and welfare organization established in Taiwan four decades
ago. They brought hope and life-changing medical care at every
stop. But perhaps the most hopeful note of all was sounded
by Vice Adm. Donald C. Arthur, U.S. Navy surgeon general, who
visited Mercy in July off Indonesia and said: “I think
there will be more of these missions.”
Also in this issue, Managing Editor Richard R. Burgess covers “Faces
of the Future,” a report (p. 22) on a pioneering ship’s
crew that will revamp the Navy’s warship manning and
foster a seminal shift in the way sailors think about their
jobs and how they relate to their colleagues. Associate Editor
Matt Hilburn reports (p. 52) that the Marine Corps’ Security
Cooperation Education and Training Center at Quantico, Va.,
is redoubling its efforts to help Marines train and advise
foreign militaries, and Seapower Correspondent Megan Scully
foresees (p. 8) the possibility of pivotal changes within some
defense committees on Capitol Hill.
Our “Interview” this month is with Marine Brig.
Gen. Carl B. Jensen, who heads the newly established expeditionary
strike group staff permanently attached to U.S. Fifth Fleet
in the U.S. Central Command, and handled the evacuation of
Americans from Beirut in July and August.
Enjoy.
We are eager to get your feedback. Contact me at rbarnard@navyleague.org
or by mail at Seapower, 2300 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201-3308.
