humanitarian mission in South Pacific

Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Russell Petty Officer 3rd Class Travis Wright, builder, assigned to Amphibious Construction Battalion 1 measures a piece of lumber at a renovation project site of the town hall building in Vava'u, Tonga. The amphibious transport dock ship USS Cleveland will arrive soon in Tonga for Pacific Partnership 2011. Cleveland is the flagship for Pacific Partnership 2011, which will visit five island nations this summer: Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and the Federated States of Micronesia. Pacific Partnership 2011 is a humanitarian assistance initiative, which promotes cooperation throughout the Pacific.

Son of Jackson, Mo., resident participates in humanitarian mission in South Pacific

Original Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Russell

USS CLEVELAND, At Sea -- Petty Officer 3rd Class Travis Wright, builder, son of Delwayne and Cathy Wright, residents of Jackson, Mo., is serving as lead builder of Amphibious Construction Battalion 1 in support of Pacific Partnership 2011 aboard amphibious transport dock ship USS Cleveland.

Cleveland is the lead vessel for Pacific Partnership 2011. Pacific Partnership is the Pacific Fleet's annual mission to Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands to engage in partnerships with host nations by improving dialogue, effecting a lasting, positive change, and employing subject matter expert exchanges in order to improve the capabilities and interoperability of the U.S. and partner nations when dealing with natural and man-made disasters.

"I think it's amazing being able to help out people who are less fortunate," said Wright. "It feels great to be a part of this mission."

Cleveland will visit the Kingdom of Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and the Federated States of Micronesia, and the military group will be accompanied by non-government organizations like Project HOPE, Vets Without Borders, and the University of California, San Diego Pre-Dental Society.

"This is my second Pacific Partnership mission," said Wright. "The first time was in 2008. Not everyone gets to do one of these missions and I am fortunate to have been able to experience two of them."

Pacific Partnership developed as a mission following the tsunami in 2004, which devastated Indonesia and much of the South Pacific. Since then, Pacific Partnership has treated 150,000 patients in 15 countries, and is supported by all U.S. uniformed services and partner nations including Australia, Japan, and New Zealand. Other nations providing teams include Canada, Spain, Malaysia, and France.

Wright is a 2006 graduate of Jackson High School and is currently stationed on Coronado Island, CA.