 |
|
|
 News Around the Republic of Mexico | September 2005 
Navy Ship Ends Mission
 Wire services
| | The U.S. ambassador to Mexico praised the marines, saying their actions "will generate gratitude for years to come." |
The crew of a Mexican navy ship wrapped up five days of labor helping to clean up rubble, rebuild schools, distribute food and equipment, and lend whatever other support they could to the survivors of Hurricane Katrina.
"They are going to be missed," American Red Cross official David Piontkowski said of the 350 sailors and officers who arrived on the Mexican navy ship Papaloapan last week the first Mexican military contingent ever to offer aid to the United States.
"I am completely impressed by how hard they worked," said U.S. Navy spokesman Lt. Corey Barker.
The Papaloapan arrived late Sept. 7 equipped with eight all-terrain vehicles, seven amphibious cargo vehicles, an ambulance with a mobile surgical unit, two helicopters and drinking water.
Each day of the ship's stay a contingent of 75 sailors disembarked from the ship in hard-hit Biloxi, Mississippi, to do their part to help hurricane victims.
"We are leaving satisfied at having added our grain of sand," said Mexican Navy Lt. José Luis Cruz. "We depart with a good taste in our mouths; very gratified for the treatment that the community and the American government have given us, and because they have allowed us to come here."
Some of the sailors helped with the cleanup while others helped to rebuild schools or distribute supplies at the Red Cross center. The Mexicans worked alongside sailors from the Canadian and Dutch navies.
Canadian sailor Mike Lever said it was gratifying to see people from different nations working together to help people.
"The real work is done by these people," he said.
"It is a satisfying thing to be one of the countries that is contributing aid," added Mexican Navy Corporal Federico Domínguez.
In addition to the sailors, a convoy of 196 Mexican soldiers crossed into Texas last Thursday in army trucks loaded with relief supplies and specialists. It was not clear when they were to return to Mexico.
"The United States will certainly remember Mexico's generosity during this difficult period," U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Tony Garza said in a news release distributed to the news media in Mexico City late Tuesday. "The outpouring of contributions from our southern neighbor has been heartening, and the delivery of supplies and expertise from the Mexican government and military is needed, welcomed, and will certainly generate gratitude for years to come." |
| |
|
Vallarta Weddings
Tell a Friend
Site Map
Print this Page
Email Us