908th to the rescue

  • Published
  • By Jeffery Melvin
  • 908th Airlift Wing
MAXWELL AFB, Ala. --  Nearly two weeks into the rescue, relief and recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, a small number of 908th Airlift Wing members continue supporting humanitarian operations.   

Tasked by U.S. Northern Command (see “Air Force Reservists mobilize for Katrina relief efforts” story and photos) to fly airlift missions around the disaster area, the wing provided aircraft, aircrews and aeromedical personnel. About 60 wing personnel including security forces and aerial port squadron personnel along with the aircrew and aeromedical were tabbed to respond to the initial requirements. That number has decreased to about 20 as federal, state, local and military officials reexamine taskings. Military forces were dispatched in anticipation of what capabilities would be needed; others were in response to requests for specific capabilities. Some of those forces have now completed their mission or their capabilities have been replaced by other local or state capabilities, permitting the return of personnel to their home stations. As relief operations continue, the Defense Dept. will continue to adjust its forces to support the Federal Emergency Management Agency-led effort. 

After flying steadily during the first week, the 908th aircrews are back at home.
C-130 pilot Lt. Col Jan Stzuka was one of eight unit members who took part in a hectic week of flying, Sept. 4-11. Six aircrew members and two crew chiefs flew eight missions, spanning three different days, including one over Labor Day weekend. 

“No one cared that it was a three-day weekend, we just wanted to help. (Of course) The people who needed the help didn’t know it was a three-day weekend either,” Colonel Stzuka said. 

“Absolutely shocking” is how he described the extent of the disaster. “I’ve never seen anything like quite like it. From Biloxi (Miss.) to New Orleans, ½-mile of coastline is gone.” 

He added that at one point during a mission, members of the crew, many of whom had combat experience, sat transfixed and fell silent, viewing the devastation. 

“Speaking for the whole crew, our only regret is that we couldn’t do more. This (the relief missions) is one of the things that really feels good about being in the Air Force. It’ll probably be one of the things we remember most,” the aircraft commander said. 

Similarly, 10 of the 16 aeromedical evacuation have been released. The six remaining 908th AES personnel in a joint effort with six AE personnel from March AFB’ Calif.’s 452nd Air Mobility Wing are staffing a crew management cell, facilitating the movement of affected patients through the medical system. 

At one point, reservists accounted for 98 percent of all aeromedical evacuations. As of Sept. 7, that number waned to 80 percent. The need for further medical evacuations dramatically dropped after Sept. 4 because local medical people were able to handle most of the patients. 

The crew management cells, reduced from three to two, are responsible for more than 360 personnel, comprising 55 aeromedical evacuation crews and 15 critical care air transport teams. 908th AES’s Capt. Jamey Durham, a health services administrator, said since Sept. 2 they’ve been controlling about a “one channel mission a day, typically consisting of a run to New Orleans, Naval Air Station Bellchase, Gulfport and Meridian, Miss., Shreveport and back home to San Antonio (Kelly Field). 

The process was chaotic at first but 908th and the 452nd AE Squadrons were able “to put to together a smooth operation” that is now running flawlessly.
 
Captain Durham spoke glowingly about the support they received from 433rd AES commander Col. Stephen Foster, who has overall responsibility for the aeromedical evacuation operations. 

Like all of the wing members participating in the relief effort, the opportunity to help out is what prompted 14 wing security forces people to answer the call. Given a heads up on Saturday, Sept. 3, receiving the final OK on Monday, Tuesday morning (Sept. 7) the squad led by Senior Master Sgt. Curtis Coleman out processed, drew their weapons from the armory and boarded a unit C-130 bound for News Orleans Sept. 7. The Maxwell group will augment forces protecting Joint Air Reserve Base New Orleans. 

The security forces contingent is a mixture of veterans who’ve seen their share of action since 9-11 and newcomers like Airman 1st Class D’Andre Pratt, a college sophomore, going on his first deployment.
 
He’s “trained and ready,” the Airman said, and although not certain about the conditions they’ll find, confident that they can make a difference. 

Aerial Port personnel continue to set the pace for the wing in terms of improvised support. After initial indications that they might be needed, the aerial porters are no longer on standby; however, they continue to support the relief effort in inventive ways. Already earning praise for acquiring trucks and delivering generators to Keesler Air Force Base, Miss, overnight when the bulky generators proved too large for transportation by aircraft, the aerial porters made another ‘special’ delivery Sept. 3.
 
Responding to a request for help from Maxwell AFB’s host unit, the 42nd Air Base Wing, seven volunteers assembled a convoy of two 1.5-ton pick ups and two regular pick ups and drove down to Keesler AFB to pick up and bring back to Maxwell 40 displaced pets.
“We went down around 3 p.m. and returned around midnight,” said 25th APS superintendent Chief Master Sgt. George Edwards. The aerial porters were accompanied by one veterinarian, making for a “most unusual trip.” Most of the pets have been received into homes within the Maxwell AFB community pending reunitement with their owners. 

As recently as Sept. 14, aerial port volunteers were at it again, this time packing, loading and transporting to Keesler AFB-area evacuees nearly 17,500 pounds of much needed supplies collected by base agencies such as the First Sergeants Group, the Chaplains’ Group, etc. 

As of mid-September, more than 21,442 active duty members and 45,791 Army and Air National Guard members were supporting the disaster relief efforts in the U.S. Gulf Coast, delivering more than 50 million liters of water, 164 million pounds of ice and 22 million Meals Ready to Eat to areas in Mississippi and Louisiana.