A C-17 Globemaster III sits at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, Sept. 30, 2009, as crews prepare to take off to deliver humanitarian supplies to the tsunami-devastated Samoa region in the South Pacific. A multi-agency contingent from Hawaii, including active-duty Airmen at Hickam, Soldiers with the Hawaii National Guard and Airmen with the Hawaii Air National Guard, took off bound for American Samoa with relief supplies and equipment to assist in the region. Reports indicate the islands have suffered greatly, villages are wiped out and more than a thousand residents and visitors are displaced. An undersea earthquake churned up tsunamis Sept. 29 that left more than 140 people dead in the Samoa region. More than 90 Airmen and Soldiers deployed from Hawaii for the humanitarian mission. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

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Humanitarian aid supplies from the Federal Emergency Management Agency are loaded onto a C-17 Globemaster III at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, Sept. 30, 2009, by Airmen from the Hawaii Air National Guard, Soldiers from the Hawaii National Guard and Hickam active-duty Airmen. The C-17 is bound for American Samoa to assist in the relief efforts underway. The efforts are in the wake of tsunamis triggered by an undersea earthquake Sept. 29 that has left more than 140 people dead in the South Pacific region. More than 90 Airmen and Soldiers deployed from Hawaii for the humanitarian mission. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

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Humanitarian aid supplies from the Federal Emergency Management Agency are loaded onto a C-17 Globemaster III at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, Sept. 30, 2009, by Airmen from the Hawaii Air National Guard, Soldiers from the Hawaii National Guard and Hickam active-duty Airmen. The C-17 is bound for American Samoa to assist in the relief efforts underway. The efforts are in the wake of tsunamis triggered by an undersea earthquake Sept. 29 that has left more than 140 people dead in the South Pacific region. More than 90 Airmen and Soldiers deployed from Hawaii for the humanitarian mission. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

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Capt. B.J. Itoman, a Hawaii Air National Guard C-17 Globemaster III pilot, observes as humanitarian aid supplies from the Federal Emergency Management Agency are loaded onto a C-17 at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, Sept. 30, 2009, by Airmen from the Hawaii Air National Guard, Soldiers from the Hawaii National Guard and Hickam active-duty Airmen. The C-17 is bound for American Samoa to assist in the relief efforts underway. The efforts are in the wake of tsunamis triggered by an undersea earthquake Sept. 29 that has left more than 140 people dead in the South Pacific region. More than 90 Airmen and Soldiers

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Humanitarian aid supplies from the Federal Emergency Management Agency are loaded onto a C-17 Globemaster III at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, Sept. 30, 2009, by Airmen from the Hawaii Air National Guard, Soldiers from the Hawaii National Guard and Hickam active-duty Airmen. The C-17 is bound for American Samoa to assist in the relief efforts underway. The efforts are in the wake of tsunamis triggered by an undersea earthquake Sept. 29 that has left more than 140 people dead in the South Pacific region. More than 90 Airmen and Soldiers deployed from Hawaii for the humanitarian mission. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

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Tech. Sgt. Kimo McKee, a Hawaii Air National Guard C-17 Globemaster III loadmaster, directs the loading of humanitarian aid supplies from the Federal Emergency Management Agency onto a C-17 at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, Sept. 30, 2009, by Airmen from the Hawaii Air National Guard, Soldiers from the Hawaii National Guard and Hickam active-duty Airmen. The C-17 is bound for American Samoa to assist in the relief efforts underway. The efforts are in the wake of tsunamis triggered by an undersea earthquake Sept. 29 that has left more than 140 people dead in the South Pacific region. More than 90 Airmen and Soldiers deployed from Hawaii for the humanitarian mission. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

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Capt. B.J. Itoman, a Hawaii Air National Guard C-17 Globemaster III pilot, goes over paperwork as humanitarian aid supplies from the Federal Emergency Management Agency are loaded onto a C-17 at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, Sept. 30, 2009, by Airmen from the Hawaii Air National Guard, Soldiers from the Hawaii National Guard and Hickam active-duty Airmen. The C-17 is bound for American Samoa to assist in the relief efforts underway. The efforts are in the wake of tsunamis triggered by an undersea earthquake Sept. 29 that has left more than 140 people dead in the South Pacific region. More than 90 Airmen and Soldiers deployed from Hawaii for the humanitarian mission. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

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Tech. Sgt. Kimo McKee, a Hawaii Air National Guard C-17 Globemaster III loadmaster, inputs load weight data for humanitarian aid supplies from the Federal Emergency Management Agency after they were loaded onto a C-17 at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, Sept. 30, 2009, by Airmen from the Hawaii Air National Guard, Soldiers from the Hawaii National Guard and Hickam active-duty Airmen. The C-17 is bound for American Samoa to assist in the relief efforts underway. The efforts are in the wake of tsunamis triggered by an undersea earthquake Sept. 29 that has left more than 140 people dead in the South Pacific region. More than 90 Airmen and Soldiers deployed from Hawaii for the humanitarian mission. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

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A C-17 Globemaster III sits on the ramp at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, Sept. 30, 2009, as crews prepare to take off to deliver humanitarian supplies to the tsunami devastated Samoa region in the South Pacific. A multi-agency contingent from Hawaii, including active-duty Airmen from Hickam, Soldiers from the Hawaii National Guard and Airmen from the Hawaii Air National Guard, are deploying to American Samoa with relief supplies and equipment to assist in the region. Reports indicate the islands have suffered greatly, villages are wiped out and more than a thousand residents and visitors are displaced. An undersea earthquake churned up tsunamis Sept. 29 that left more than 140 people dead in the Samoa region. More than 90 Airmen and Soldiers deployed from Hawaii for the humanitarian mission. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

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Humanitarian aid bound for tsunami relief effort

Published Oct. 2, 2009