353rd SOG's Relief Effort Brings Phuket 100 Tons Of Supplies --
And Counting
As the calendar turned a new year, the aid delivered by Airmen
of the 353rd Special Operations Group to communities on
Thailand’s southwest coast approached 100 tons.
Four MC-130s and 100 Airmen from the group continue to pump
vital relief supplies into strategic cities located along the
devastated coastline.
Thai officials are still identifying life-sustaining supplies
such as medicine, tarps for shelter, bandages and water, as top
priorities. Two massive aircraft hangars on the east side of
Bangkok’s sprawling airport are the collection location for
donations nationwide. Trucks are taking nonperishable supplies to
the coastal cities 10 hours away. In a matter of two days,
donations from around the kingdom have outpaced all airlift
capabilities.
In Thailand’s largest tourist destination, the situation
is dire. Upwards of 5,000 dead have been found along the coast, and
Thailand’s prime minister warns that number may double as
outlying islands are fully examined. While this resort town was
smashed by killer waves, islands offshore, like Phi Phi and Kao
Lak, were completely decimated.
Lt. Col. David Mobley, from the 17th Special Operations Squadron
at Kadena Air Base, Japan, is the deployed mission commander in
Bangkok.
"With limited aircrews, a skeleton maintenance squad, a few
spare parts and almost no support functions, the work carried out
by this team is amazing," he said. "Every Airman here understands
that to be doing anything else right now just wouldn’t seem
right."
The Americans are not alone. The Royal Thai air force has
mobilized its forces and is also busy hauling life-saving cargo
south.
Thai aviators have accompanied US aircrews on flights to many of
the remote airfields to facilitate entry, unloading of supplies and
departure. Airmen involved in the operation said it has been a huge
success.
"We’ve enjoyed very quick turnarounds because the Thais
know these fields like the back of their hands," one said. "Their
experience is invaluable to us getting our jobs done. With less
than one day’s notice, we rolled in here and began operating
out of their offices and their neighborhoods like we were old
friends."
An Airman assigned to the 1st Special Operations Squadron, said
his impact was brought home his first day here.
"Bringing a dozen litter patients back to Bangkok was by far the
most meaningful thing I’ve done," he said. "The sincere
thanks and absolute gratitude of people whose lives have been
crushed was amazing. I’ll never forget it."
As a one-man ringleader, a loadmaster here directs pallets onto
the aircraft every day.
"The supplies we’re loading into these planes are having a
huge impact on millions of people’s lives today," he said.
"If it’s a temporary shelter for a family of five or
vaccinations for 50,000, these things are important right now.
It’s humbling to be a part of this assistance."
The Airmen in Bangkok are under the direction of Joint Task
Force 536. The task force is coordinating US military relief
efforts in the region and will enable leaders on the ground to
maximize the efforts of people and resources.
As the new year began, the devastation in Southeast Asia was
just beginning to be understood. The fatality total has reached
150,000, and continues to climb. With such dire situations on the
ground, the Airmen here said they can only hope their efforts can
make a difference.