Fitzgerald, Lassen Sailors Visit Nursing Home

DONGHAE, Republic of Korea (NNS) -- Sailors from the forward-deployed Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) USS Lassen (DDG 82) and Republic of Korea (ROK) navy recently participated in a community service event at Eearae Nursing Home in Donghae, Republic of Korea.

More than 20 U.S. and 20 ROK Sailors cleaned, cooked and interacted with residents from the nursing home.

"I love helping out and I think it's really part of our Navy culture to come out and help different countries in any way that we can," said Chief Logistics Specialist Patrick Rubio of Fitzgerald. "We're not here just for security, we're here to help others. Not many people are aware that we like to come out, help and mingle with the local community."

U.S. Navy Sailors took the opportunity to help and communicate residents with the assistance of ROK Sailors as translators.

"Whether it's in the states or back home, it's always a great cause and being able to work with our Korean counterparts is very gratifying," said Fire Controlman 1st Class Scott Pound of Lassen. "Working with the ROK Sailors show that we have a common cause and common goals, and if we continue to do work together, great things can happen."

Sailors from Fitzgerald and Lassen not only got to help the nursing home residents, they also got a chance to connect with Sailors from ROK.

"It's great to be here and help the residents, we are all together here today as one united Navy," said Ensign Seong Jeong from ROK Navy. "We do have challenges in communication, but we can still understand each other and in the end we come out with a stronger bond."

Fitzgerald and Lassen are part of Destroyer Squadron 15, forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan, and are deployed to conduct exercise Foal Eagle 2013 with allied nation Republic of Korea in support of regional security and stability of the Asia-Pacific region.

For more news from Commander Task Force 70, visit www.navy.mil/local/ctf70/.