Airman, Soldiers aid local beach in oil spill clean-up

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Steven R. Doty
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
The smell of crude oil was still evident early Friday morning as 45 Airmen and Soldiers from the base joined more than 150 workers and other volunteers as they started another day of beach clean-up after the nation's worst oil spill that occurred almost one month ago at Mallipo Beach.

According to the South Korean Coast Guard, the accident occurred the morning of December 7, 2007, when a crane-carrying barge en route from a construction site lost control after a wire linking it to the tugboat was cut due to high winds, waves and currents. The vessel then slammed into the Hebei Spirit oil tanker.

A total of 66,000 barrels (2.7 million gallons) of crude oil spilled from the crane barge and washed on shore. The cleanup involved 13 helicopters, 17 airplanes, 327 vessels and over 200,000 workers to include the United States Airmen, Soldiers and Sailors from around South Korea.

Leading Wolf Pack volunteers to Mallipo was Tech. Sgt. Jason Rosenbaum, a fireman with the 8th Civil Engineer Squadron.

"We were not able to get there for the initial clean-up when the sea was black, but this work (cleaning oil from rocks) is just as important to not only the environment, but to the way of life for the surrounding communities," said Sergeant Rosenbaum.

Sergeant Rosenbaum noted there was a large amount of people expressing their desire to to help, so he took the necessary steps to get Airman and Soldiers involved.

"The South Korean government and its people have been so generous and we wanted to give back the best way we could." said Sergeant Rosenbaum, "A disaster like this is devastating and requires many hours of work and lots of help. We had over 70 volunteers but we were only able to bring 45. It was nice to see so many people wanted to help."

The effects of the oil spill threaten fish farms along an 11-mile stretch of scenic and environmentally rich coastline, 181 maritime farms and more than 4,000 farmers. The spill also has an economical impact on its summertime season as Mallipo Beach is the most popular tourist attraction in South Korea, averaging about 20 million tourists last year. Thus, the help they receive in the clean-up process can have enormous impact on so many levels.

For volunteer Senior Airman Peter Mellon, American Forces Network broadcaster, here the clean-up was a great opportunity.

"It is a very daunting task, but any effort that I can make to help with the cleanup is effort that someone else will not have to make." said Airmen Mellon, "If I can clean one rock or save one animal, that is enough for me. It may be hard to see the impact that is being made, but the fact is an impact is still being made."

Mallipo Beach representatives said they have received countless volunteers and aid in the clean-up process but understand that it is a very long and tedious process that counts on everybody. From volunteers offering to clean up, to those that hand out free coffee and snacks to the workers, every effort counts and brings the beach and community that much closer to life.

Army Staff Sgt. Christopher Vine, Charlie 144, Patriot Battery, was excited and humbled to be a part of the experience.

"Coming to Korea was a great chance to work with and support the local community," said Sergeant Vine. "It was great to know there was another way we could help our host nation and build a stronger relationship with the Airmen of the 8th Fighter Wing at the same time. We were honored to work side by side in the hopes of making a difference to the community of Taean."