Keywords: US Navy 060509-N-3714J-046 Crew members aboard Military Sealift Command (MSC) hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) prepare boxes to be air lifted in support of Project Handclasp.jpg en Pacific Ocean May 9 2006 - Crew members aboard Military Sealift Command MSC hospital ship USNS Mercy T-AH 19 prepare boxes to be air lifted in support of Project Handclasp from Mercy is on a five-month deployment during which it will visit areas of South Asia Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands where its crew and several health and civic-related organizations will work together to aid in humanitarian assistance and civic efforts Project Handclasp accepts and transports educational humanitarian and goodwill material overseas on a space-available basis in U S Navy ships Materials are distributed directly to needy recipients by U S service personnel stationed in overseas areas or embarked on U S Navy ships which visit these areas Mercy is uniquely capable of supporting medical and humanitarian assistance needs and is configured with special medical equipment and a robust multi-specialized medical team to provide a range of services ashore as well as aboard the ship The medical staff is augmented with an assistance crew many of whom are part of non-governmental organizations which have significant medical capabilities U S Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Erika N Jones RELEASED 2006-05-09 060509-N-3714J-046 Navy http //www navy mil/view_image asp id 34355 U S Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Erika N Jones PD-USGov-Military-Navy Aboard USNS Mercy T-AH-19 Project Handclasp United States Navy |