KOROR, Palau (NNS) -- USS Curts (FFG 38) departed Koror Sept. 20 after a scheduled six-day port visit during her return homeward after a Western Pacific and Persian Gulf deployment with the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group.
While in port, crew members offered ship tours to local school children as part of a a community relations (COMREL) project. The children were enthusiastic and curious about life aboard a naval vessel.
"Usually our COMRELs involve painting or some physical labor. This was different; we just interacted with the kids and had a lot of fun getting to know them," Dumpit said, adding, "It was nice change of pace," said Storekeeper 3rd Class (SW) Clifford Dumpit.
Later, a U.S. Navy Seabee battalion stationed on Palau paired up with the Curts crew and aided in the distribution of more than 850 pounds of hygienic material and toys as part of Project Handclasp. The material was distributed to the local hospital and to local schools where it was graciously received, said Cmdr. Yvette Davids, Curts' commanding officer.
"Building a relationship with the community through COMREL tours and Project Handclasp made a lasting impression on Curts' Sailors," Davids said. "It is with great hopes that these small contributions share in expressing the crew's profound thanks in Palau's warm welcome to Curts' crew throughout the visit.
The crew spent the rest of their time exploring the Palau's famous Rock Islands, kayaking, scuba diving, snorkeling, swimming with stingless jelly fish, and hiking.
The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility. Operating in the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean, the U.S. 7th Fleet is the largest of the forward-deployed U.S. fleets covering 52 million square miles, with approximately 60-70 ships, 200-300 aircraft and 40,000 Sailors and Marines assigned at any given time.
