[US Navy] Seabees teach baseball to Cambodian children

March 21, 2012
By HM1 (FMF) Joshua A. Easterday / NMCB 40

KAMPONG THOM, Cambodia Seabees from U.S. Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 40 recently volunteered to teach children the basics of baseball to a local village in Cambodia.

Seabees from the battalion, known as the Fighting 40, traveled to Kampong Thom, Cambodia, for a community relations opportunity to teach the fundamentals of baseball and to spend time with local residents. The day concluded with a friendly pickup game with the children and members of the U.S. military.

“Any and all interaction between the U.S. Navy Seabees and the people and children of Cambodia is a wonderful thing,” said NMCB 40 Detail Cambodia Officer In Charge, Lt. (j.g.) Grant Glover. “We came here to teach these young boys the fundamentals of American baseball, but I believe that we learned more about the spirit and resolve of these young men.”

Construction Mechanic 1st Class Andrew Duchscher, leading petty officer of Detail Cambodia, said both the kids and the Seabees seemed to have a good time.

“I’m happy we could come out and teach them the basics of a new sport,” he said of the youngsters.

Construction Mechanic 3rd Class Aaron Dalbey said, “It was nice to go out and help out with a sport that’s just starting to introduce itself to the country.”

In addition to the Seabees, there were several other U.S. military members from the U.S. Embassy Cambodia who volunteered to assist in teaching the children the sport. U.S. personnel taught the children the basics on swinging the bat as well as the rules of play.

At the end of the event, the children waved goodbye, saying, “Akun Jann,” meaning “thank you very much” in Khmer, the local language of Cambodia.