Malaysia

Friendly Frigate - The frigate Reuben James arrived Oct. 9 in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, for a visit intended to strengthen ties with the Malaysian military. Crew members helped with construction projects such as visits to the Don Bosco, a teen girls school near Mount Linabalu, and Batik Harapan, an all boys special education school. Sailors also participated in a clean up of the Likas River. " Our purpose was not to clean the entire river, but to show that we care about it," said Gunners Mate 3rd Class James Smith. " Picking up trash heightened the environmental awareness of the local people, and many of them came out of their houses to help us.