15th Airlift Wing brings relief to tsunami victims

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Carolyn Viss
  • 15th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii --  Eleven 15th Airlift Wing C-17 Globemaster IIIs carrying 157 passengers and 378.3 short tons of cargo provided humanitarian relief this week to American Samoa, neighboring Samoa and Tonga after the islands were stuck by a 15-foot tsunami, generated by an 8.3 magnitude earthquake Sept. 29. 

Teaming with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the on-going relief efforts are a total-force mission being carried out by the 15th AW; 535th Airlift Squadron; 735th Air Mobility Squadron; 154th Medical Group; Hawaii Air National Guard; and Hawaii National Guard. 

"Between the 535th AS and 204th AS, we launched 11 missions out of a bravo alert posture, which means crews were put into crew rest and triggered to respond within three hours of notification," said Lt. Col. Casey Eaton, 535th AS commander. 

Eight of the 11 missions were 535th AS C-17s. They received the tasking the evening of Sept. 29 and sent planes out by the afternoon of Sept. 30. According to Colonel Eaton, sitting in alert posture like that is fatiguing, but the crews were all excited to do it because of the importance of the mission. 

"It took a lot of heavy lifting to get all this down to the American Samoas," said Col. Giovanni Tuck, 15th AW commander. 

"Team Hickam could not have done it without each squadron stepping up to fill its role," he said. "The 735th AMS took what we processed and put it on all the 535th Airlift Squadron's C-17s." 

The C-17s were loaded with generators, cargo vans, trailers, pickup trucks, bottled water, meals ready to eat and medical supplies. 

"We loaded 15 missions including two civilian airlines," said Lt. Col. Jeffrey Pierce, 735th Air Mobility Squadron commander. This Air Mobility Command unit also provided joint inspection load team and load planning support to all the missions. They loaded 492.3 tons of material including FEMA relief supplies and 134 passengers. 

"(Events over) three of the past four weekends have created a need for our folks to work and, despite that, they are eager and willing to put in the overtime when crisis arrives," Colonel Pierce said. "Our squadron provides AMC support for global relief missions, and our partnership at Hickam proves we are ready to answer when disaster strikes." 

Indeed, "providing peace and power in the Pacific and beyond" is the mission statement for the Pacific Air Forces, Hickam AFB's major command. In addition to providing safe and reliable wartime readiness, humanitarian efforts and building good relationships with Pacific neighbors is a PACAF and Hickam priority. 

"The 15th AW response was nothing short of incredible," said Col. Jeffrey Morgan, 15th Operations Group commander. "I was impressed and extremely proud that Team Hickam responded rapidly and professionally to the events in American Samoa. The 15th AW partnered magnificently with the HIANG and the 515th AMOW to transport FEMA, Hawaii National Guard, and other essential responders quickly to Pago Pago. Our ground and air crews are heroes for going above and beyond to help those in need." 

According to Colonel Morgan, military medical personnel evacuated injured patients back to medical facilities in Oahu. 

In the next three to six days, the 535th AS may be redeploying the aircraft from Samoa to Hickam, Colonel Eaton said. 

"One of the great things about having C-17s -- a strategic asset -- positioned in the Pacific is that we are much more responsive to humanitarian contingencies than mainland units would be," Colonel Eaton said. "We are closer, so in addition to responding to wartime contingencies, a big part of our mission is humanitarian. We demonstrated our humanitarian capabilities in America Samoa, China, Bangladesh, and Pago Pago -- all examples of effectively employing C-17s and U.S. Air Force members in the AOR." 

Strategically positioned and poised, Hickam Airmen jumped into action in a moment's notice to support tsunami devastated areas in the Pacific. As people continue to pick up the pieces, the 15th Airlift Wing is preparing to take on other missions -- emergency or normal operations -- as it comes their way.