In just one day, the U.S. Pacific Command was performing humanitarian missions in the Philippines, American and Western Samoa, and Indonesia.

Adm. Timothy “;Timbo”; Keating described yesterday as just a “;normal day”;:

» The earthquake and tsunami victims in the Samoas were getting relief aid flown in by four C-17 Globemaster cargo jets and two Coast Guard C-130 aircraft from Hawaii, and the frigate USS Ingraham was offshore ready to produce fresh drinking water and participate in search-and-rescue operations with its two helicopters.

» In the Philippines, 100 soldiers were diverted from a scheduled joint amphibious landing training exercise to Manila to help with recovery efforts stemming from Typhoon Ketsana, and a battalion of Marines are afloat on the amphibious dock landing ship USS Denver and two other ships near Luzon, available if Typhoon Parma causes problems this weekend.

Another C-130 did aerial surveillance of western Sumatra following Wednesday's magnitude-7.6 earthquake, and another team of Special Forces troops was working with the Indonesian army, conducting damage assessment.

Throughout this southern region of the Pacific, “;there are folks in need of help,”; said Keating, who will step down Oct. 19 as commander of the 250,000 U.S. troops stationed in the Pacific. He will be replaced by Adm. Robert Willard, former commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet.

Yesterday, Keating, who has led the Pacific Command since March 2007, said these humanitarian missions are part of the strategy of “;presence, readiness and partnership.”;

“;Right now we are seeing demonstrable benefits of our being out there with forces being present, with forces which are well trained and well equipped, highly motivated and eager to help,”; he said. “;It demonstrators the efficacy and efficiency and the necessity of partnership.”;