Navy humanitarian mission includes animals too

The amphibious assault ship Boxer returns to San Diego today after a two-month humanitarian mission to Guatemala, El Salvador and Peru.

Although the main goal of the mission was to deliver medical and dental care to local populations (24,000 patients were seen ashore; 127 were flown to the ship for surgery), animals were not forgotten. Army veterinarians inspected 2,800 livestock, including (pictured) at a goat farm in the Huacho region of Peru.

For the Boxer's crew the mission was a departure from their regular task of delivering Marines to war zones. Sailors acquired new skills. Accompanying the veterinarians to the goat farm to keep the animals calm was Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Melody Colangeli, whose regular job is aviation maintenance.

-- Tony Perry

Photo: U.S. Navy