Missions Flown From Alaska And Hawaii
Alaska and Hawaii, the two closest
states, are supporting American relief efforts by sending Air
National Guardsmen and resources to the region devastated by the
Dec. 26 earthquake and tsunamis, Guard spokesmen said.
Guardsmen are supporting the unprecedented relief effort for
Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka and the nine other countries around the
Indian Ocean that were hit by one of the most terrible natural
disasters in recorded history, officials said.
The death toll surpassed 150,000 two weeks after the event.
Countless more people were still unaccounted for, homeless and
subject to the life-threatening effects of disease and lack of food
and water, officials said.
The guardsmen are undertaking this mission at the same time that
many others are heavily engaged in the war against terrorism at
home and abroad, said Maj. Mike Haller, spokesman for the Alaska
National Guard.
About 150 Alaska Air Guardsmen were involved or prepared to take
part in the tsunami relief efforts, Major Haller said.
Brig. Gen. James Robinson, the Alaska Air Guard's chief of
staff, has been assigned as second in command for the joint US
military assistance group for Thailand. He is responsible for the
daily activities of the joint relief effort, Major Haller said.
Three C-130 Hercules from the 144th Airlift Squadron at Kulis
Air National Guard Base, Alaska, are on duty in Japan, assigned to
support airlift operations for the recovery. About 25 guardsmen are
involved in that mission.
About 120 guardsmen from the 210th, 211th and 212th Rescue
Squadrons at Kulis are standing by to take two HC-130 rescue
tankers and three HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters to the afflicted
region if they are needed.
Meanwhile, Maj. Russell Wilmot III, an Alaska Air Guard
intelligence officer, has served in the hard-hit Thailand resort
town of Phuket with six people from the Anchorage Fire
Department.
Major Wilmot is familiar with Thai military forces and speaks
the country's language so he could offer the firefighters the
necessary coordination to ensure their skills are properly used,
Major Haller said.
The Hawaii Air Guardsmen are also helping, said spokesman Maj.
Charles Anthony.
A KC-135 Stratotanker has flown a Department of Defense
forensics team to Thailand to help identify victims. Two combat
communications Airmen have been sent to the same country, he
said.
Thirty-nine security forces Airmen will provide security for US
forces in Indonesia, Major Anthony said.
This, however, is just the beginning of what world officials
said they believe will be a long relief effort.
(ANN salutes by Army Master Sgt. Bob Haskell, National Guard
Bureau)