Thirteen years ago, a natural disaster in the South Pacific killed hundreds and left thousands more homeless. The eruption of Mount Pinatubo created an emergency for Filipinos and the American dependents of the servicemen and servicewomen station in the Philippines. George Bush (41) sent the US Navy to provide disaster relief and to evacuate Americans from the area, in a manner similar to what we are doing with tsunami relief today.

One of the people sailing to the relief of the tsunami victims understands exactly what they have experienced -- because she was rescued from Pinatubo by the same ship she serves now:

Standing in the hangar bay of this mammoth aircraft carrier, Seaman Joviena Kay looks across the waves toward the devastated coast of Sumatra, remembering a time 13 years ago when she huddled on the same deck with evacuees from another great Asian disaster.

Joviena was 6 years old then, a refugee from a volcano. The Filipino-American eventually joined the U.S. Navy, and she is serving on the ship that rescued her as its sailors help the survivors of an earthquake and tsunami.

Joviena Kay's story puts a human face on the tragedy of this disaster, and the hope that can still exist afterwards. She sounds like a remarkable young woman, one that we can be thankful is representing the United States in Sumatra's hour of need. Make sure to read the entire story.

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» Survivor of Pinatubo comes full-circle from Shock and Blog
This is just plain cool [Read More]

Tracked on January 7, 2005 4:39 PM

» Same ship, same mission. from Beef Always Wins
Captain Ed points out an inspiring story on a Sailor currently assisting in the tsunami relief mission [Read More]

Tracked on January 8, 2005 7:42 AM

» Karma from Feste...a foolsblog
Capt'n Ed posts a terrific story: Thirteen years ago, a natural disaster in the South Pacific killed hundreds and left thousands more homeless. The eruption of Mount Pinatubo created an emergency for Filipinos and the American dependents of the service... [Read More]

Tracked on January 8, 2005 9:33 AM

» A Few Cheers for Great People! from The Anchoress
First up (with a hattip to the Captain is the remarkable story of one Seaman Joviena Kay, who serves aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln (you know, the big warship so many Europeans mocked George W. Bush for sending: Standing in the hangar bay of this ... [Read More]

Tracked on January 8, 2005 12:16 PM