Sailors and Military Sealift Command civilian mariners assigned to the submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40) volunteered to participate in a community service (COMSERV) event Oct. 6, at the Bukit Harapan Children's Home.

The Bukit Harapan (Hill of Hope) is a non-profit organization that houses and schools mentally and physically disabled children who have been orphaned, abandoned due to their disabilities, or have come from unstable family backgrounds.

"Frank Cable has visited us numerous times and each time the Sailors come to visit, you can really see that the kids enjoy their company. Whenever I tell them that the Sailors are coming, they get very excited," said Audra Keyworth, Bukit Harapan administrator. "The kids don't speak English, but somehow they communicate and there is a bond. Because of the affection and interaction they show the kids, it makes the kids feel loved and appreciated. They feel that someone cares for them."

During the visit, the children treated the Frank Cable's crew members to songs, dances and candies. The Sailors continued the visit by coloring pictures, talking, singing and dancing with the children.

"This was my second time visiting. By the look in their eyes, it seems they are excited and they look so happy interacting with us," said Engineman 1st Class Floyd Johnson, a COMSERV participant. "Another remarkable part of the visit is that we live thousands of miles away from each other, but we are so alike in our cultures with the music they listen and dance to and the songs they sang to us. The same Justin Bieber song they are singing and dancing with us are the same songs I listen to with my children."

Frank Cable's Commanding Officer, Capt. Mark Benjamin, attended the event along with Executive Officer Cmdr. Thomas Gorey and Command Chaplain Lt. Cmdr. Louis Lee. During the visit, Benjamin presented the children's home with his command coin in appreciation for their generous hospitality.

Frank Cable conducts maintenance and support on submarines and surface vessels deployed in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility and is currently on a regularly scheduled underway period.

For more information about Frank Cable, visit the ship's website at www.cable.navy.mil or follow on Facebook by typing "Frank Cable" in the search block.