 |
| Capt.
Robert Frees (right), 83rd Communications Squadron
HAMMER ACE chief, assists fellow volunteers from the
Marine Corps detachment here as they off load bottled
water to a local supply distribution center during
a humanitarian mission Sept. 3. Keesler volunteers
delivered nearly 12,000 Meals Ready to Eat and more
than 11,000 bottles of water to hurricane victims.
(U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Dan Oberly) |
1st Lt. Albert Bosco
81st Training Wing Public Affairs (deployed)
KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.
-- Military and civilian volunteers from Keesler Air Force
Base are reaching out to help the local community after
surviving and beginning recovery operations after Hurricane
Katrina struck Aug. 29.
More than a dozen Air Force members from the 81st Training
Wing here provided medical aid, food, water and ice Saturday
to approximately 450 Biloxi, Miss., community members
sheltered at Biloxi Junior High School.
“A Biloxi police officer came to the command post this
morning to request immediate help,” said Capt. Marion
Mullinix, executive officer for the 81st Training Wing
commander. “She said people in the shelters were getting
sick from lack of sanitation and food.”
The captain assembled a team of volunteers, including
pediatricians, nurses, a chaplain and members of the 81st
Services Squadron, which delivered nearly 500 Meals Ready
to Eat (MREs), more than 1,400 bottles of water, and a
truck load of ice and medical supplies, such as Pedialite,
baby wipes and intravenous aid.
“Within two hours of her request, our team was at the
school offloading the supplies and medical aid,” Captain
Mullinix said.
A second group of approximately 30 Keesler Air Force,
Navy and Marine Corps personnel delivered more than 11,500
MREs and more than 10,000 bottles of water to two community
distribution centers, where the volunteers then assisted
American Red Cross and local authorities by distributing
the supplies to the lines of cars awaiting the much-needed
supplies.
“This was a huge task, but our military volunteers met
the challenge and ensured the community knew Keesler is
coming online and is helping out where it can,” said Maj.
Al Estes, 81st Communications Squadron commander and team
lead. “It was a great feeling to see our military members
reach out beyond our gates to assist families who were
devastated by Hurricane Katrina.”
According to Col. Douglas Hayner, 81st Training Wing vice
commander, the humanitarian mission was yet one more example
of Airmen, Sailors and Marines coming together to assist
others in time of need.
“We’re used to working with our sister services in deployed
environments, but this was a little more special in that
these folks are from different services and different
parts of the country, and they don’t normally work together,
but they came together to help those outside our gates.
Their selfless actions epitomize what it means to be an
American, but also to be a military member,” Colonel Hayner
said. “This is what wearing the uniform is about – working
together for a common goal, whether it’s conducting combat
operations abroad or supporting those who depend on us
to assure their way of life.”
According to the volunteers, the aid was graciously received
by the countless victims who poured into the centers to
get the supplies.
“It was emotional for both us and the victims,” said Capt.
Robert Frees, 83rd Communications Squadron HAMMER ACE
chief. “I felt proud to be an Airman and an American,
and it made me feel good that we have the ability to reach
out and provide support to those in need. I was inspired
by the strength of the volunteers, who pulled together
in the shadow of this disaster to assist the local community
despite our own operational missions. Some of the victims
gave their thanks to the troops, but the looks in their
eyes said so much more.”
Although recovery operations are ongoing for Keesler,
volunteers from the base are taking every opportunity
to extend aid to the battered parts of the surrounding
community, and as personnel continue to arrive and the
base’s infrastructure is rebuilt, the base can provide
additional support to the local community.
“We’re still trying to get our facilities up and running
on the base, but these are just some of the things we
are doing for our local community, which has done so much
for us over the years,” said Brig. Gen. William Lord,
81st TRW commander.
