Posted:
April 22, 2014
By Captain John Mansfield
Master, USNS VADM K.R. Wheeler
In April, members of American Maritime Officers and the Seafarers International Union who work aboard the USNS Charlton, USNS Soderman and USNS VADM K.R. Wheeler participated in a beautification project at the Suicide Cliff memorial site on Saipan.
The memorial marks the location where, during World War II when U.S. forces captured the island, Japanese soldiers and civilians leapt from the cliff rather than surrendering.
The officers and crew members were transported to the memorial by the Marianas Visitors Authority. We removed more than 100 feet of old fencing, scraped and painted the railings, installed more than 100 feet of new fencing, and picked up trash in the area.
The Marianas Visitors Authority provided the materials, lunch and transportation. Seafix provided a truck and a generator to use with the power tools brought by the mariners.
The project turned out very well. The crews attacked the project with gusto and we were all glad we could chip in and contribute in return for the hospitality Saipan has shown the squadron.
Some of the crew reported being approached by local residents, who went during the weekend to pay their respects to those who perished. The crew reported how grateful the residents they spoke with were and touched that the ships' crews would reach out and tackle a project like this.
AMO officers from USNS Charlton, USNS Soderman, USNS Wheeler participate in beautification project on Saipan
By Captain John Mansfield
Master, USNS VADM K.R. Wheeler
In April, members of American Maritime Officers and the Seafarers International Union who work aboard the USNS Charlton, USNS Soderman and USNS VADM K.R. Wheeler participated in a beautification project at the Suicide Cliff memorial site on Saipan.
The memorial marks the location where, during World War II when U.S. forces captured the island, Japanese soldiers and civilians leapt from the cliff rather than surrendering.
The officers and crew members were transported to the memorial by the Marianas Visitors Authority. We removed more than 100 feet of old fencing, scraped and painted the railings, installed more than 100 feet of new fencing, and picked up trash in the area.
The Marianas Visitors Authority provided the materials, lunch and transportation. Seafix provided a truck and a generator to use with the power tools brought by the mariners.
The project turned out very well. The crews attacked the project with gusto and we were all glad we could chip in and contribute in return for the hospitality Saipan has shown the squadron.
Some of the crew reported being approached by local residents, who went during the weekend to pay their respects to those who perished. The crew reported how grateful the residents they spoke with were and touched that the ships' crews would reach out and tackle a project like this.