And You Thought Hurricanes Were Bad...

At almost the same time Hurricane Isabel was causing havoc on the East Coast, U.S. Soldiers were aiding Korean citizens who had been devastated by a typhoon. "We've lost everything," sobbed South Korean Kim Keah-weol, as she pointed to the devastation that Typhoon Maemi caused when it swept through her village in September.

This is the second year a typhoon has hit Kim's home and other villagers of Bongjung-Ri in Kangwon Province.

Members of 18th Medical Command and 1st Battalion, 52nd Aviation Regiment, answered the call Sept. 19 to assist the Republic of Korea Army in relief efforts. Two American UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and one ROK helicopter were greeted by villagers with hugs and tears of gratitude when they flew in from Yongsan Barracks with relief supplies, including blankets, food, diapers, fresh water and medical supplies. There were also doctors and medics on hand to provide any medical assistance that the Koreans may have needed.

"South Korea and the ROK military are very functional and very proficient in everything they do," said Lt. Col. Robert Pipkin, environmental health consultant, 18th MEDCOM. "We're just trying to see if there are any needs ... and determine if those needs can be met by us."

According to Pipkin, U.S. Army Preventive Medicine has been involved extensively in this kind of consequence management all over the world, providing relief for the victims of disasters such as fires, hurricanes, typhoons and floods.

"We've done it in South America, we've done it in Central America," he said. "It's not a new mission for the United States Army."

Pipkin said there are several goals that must be met when dealing with consequence management missions. "We have to make sure we meet the immediate mission of getting the medical supplies delivered," said Pipkin. "The other mission we have is to see what the needs are here and just basically get an idea of what the mission is."

1st Lt. Nicholas Dille, a Black Hawk pilot for Company A, 1st Battalion, 52nd Aviation Regiment, participated in a similar relief mission last year when Typhoon Rusa devastated areas of South Korea. "We deployed the same number of Black Hawks out to Sokcho and provided the same exact kind of relief for about four or five days," said Dille, "and we're expecting this to be the same kind of mission this time."

Upon arriving at the site, the extent of the damage was immediately visible with destroyed houses and a bridge devastated by the sweeping currents of the nearby, swollen river. "Once we got to the site where the disaster was at and we saw the extent of the damage, we felt even better because we knew that we were there for a purpose and that they really needed the supplies that we were bringing up there," said Dille.

Dille stressed the importance of safety when dealing with missions that involve extensive damage and debris that can pose landing problems and other complications.

"We know it's important that they get these supplies, but it's extremely important that we practice safety first, otherwise we're hurting ourselves," said Dille. Dille said that he was thankful for the opportunity to provide assistance to his host nation. "We're here in Korea as their neighbors and guests, and when they need us to do something like provide humanitarian relief, we're very happy, and I think it's very important."

Seeing the reaction on the villagers' faces when the Soldiers flew in with the supplies was especially touching for Dille.

"I felt great when I saw that," Dille said. "It just made the mission a thousand percent better." [ANN Thanks Sgt. Lisa Jendry, 8th U.S. Army Public Affairs]

FMI: www.army.mil