US military and medical troops began health and dental checkups for Cambodians on other humanitarian work Tuesday, after the warship Essex docked in Sihanoukville.
"I think the presence of the US ship that has docked in the international port at [Sihanoukville] indicates the deep relationship between the royal government of Cambodia and the US government," said Prum Sarang, vice principle of Hun Sen Primary School, in Sihanoukville, where the Marines from the Essex repainted the school, repaired windows and set up a playground.
With up to 2,500 crew, the USS Essex is the largest US ship to visit Cambodia in 30 years.
Crew will also have military "exchanges" with Cambodian personnel.
