By Dona Fair
UTAPAO, Thailand -- For the son of a Moore woman, being an ambassador for peace in a country known for its spicy cuisine, magnificent colorful temples and lush jungles where deadly cobra snakes are king, was quite an experience.
Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Trey R. Mangham, son of Tina Mangham of Moore, participated in Cobra Gold 2010, the largest multi-lateral military training exercise in the Pacific region.
Sponsored by the Royal Thai Supreme Command and United States Pacific Command, Cobra Gold is conducted throughout the Kingdom of Thailand. This year's participants are Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, United States and for the first time, the Republic of Korea.
"My job here during Cobra Gold is to train the Thai military in nuclear, biological and chemical warfare," said Mangham, an infantry rifleman stationed at Twenty-nine Palms in California. "I have trained them how to decontaminate personnel, vehicles and aircraft in both combat and non-combat environments."
Since its inception in 1982, Cobra Gold has developed into an important symbol of the U.S. military's commitment to maintaining peace and security in Asia. The exercise provides realistic training, improves efficiency through military coordination and tests military operations.
Service members work on their tactical skills and test their ability to operate in a joint, multinational environment.
These range from amphibious assaults to engineering and medical humanitarian and civic assistance projects geared towards improving the quality of life of the Thai people. They also practiced noncombatant civilian personnel evacuation operations used during disaster-relief needs.
The training gives Mangham a chance to improve his individual skills and experience the culture of other countries.
"This type of exercise is important because it keeps us and our allies prepared for any kind of attack," said Mangham. "I am glad that I got the experience of training with a foreign military."
Thailand is quite a contrast to the hustle and bustle of the United States. With its tropical landscape, exotic beaches and animal wildlife, it is also sometimes referred to as the "Venice of the East."
With its canals and rivers, inland waterways still maintain their dominance over daily life.
Instead of retail shopping markets that Mangham and the others are accustomed to, floating markets abound with sellers who pack their wares -- a variety of tropical fruits, flowers, vegetables and fresh produce, onto small boats and jostle with each other for the attention of buyers alongside the canals.
"Thailand is very different from the states," said Mangham. "The people are very nice and full of energy and the countryside is very different from what I am used to. I will always remember how the Thai people welcomed us with open arms."
In an age where it is just as important for countries to support peace operations, Mangham and his multi-national military partners understand firsthand what it takes to bring many countries together to respond to disasters and humanitarian assistance around the world.
