2/09/10 - Haiti: Montana Responds

Tools

By Sarah Gravlee

Story Published: Feb 9, 2010 at 7:16 PM MST

Story Updated: Feb 9, 2010 at 7:26 PM MST

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Charleston Air Force Base is in the midst of a massive effort to get supplies into Haiti and evacuees out. Nearly every mission using C-17 cargo planes is taking off from Charleston.

"The base as a whole comes together when we have these sorts of things that happen that we need to support," said Cmdr. James Copher with the Charleston AFB.

Since the effort began, 30 additional C-17s and their crews have landed in Charleston. With more flight crews, more people are needed on the ground to support the mission. That's where members of Montana's Air National Guard come in.

"On Monday, I was at work and they called me and told me I was leaving on Tuesday," said Master Sgt. Michelle Rue with MANG. "I left work and packed."

Rue is part of a 9-person team from Montana stationed in Charleston. Tech Sgt. Troy Anderson said the crew specializes in support services.

"We do quite a few different things," he said. "Food service, lodging, fitness center, morale stuff."

Anderson and two others are working in lodging. Three are in the chow hall. One is working in the fitness center and Rue is in the flight kitchen preparing meals for crews on the planes.

"It's the first time Montana Air National Guard has been a part of an international relief effort," said Master Sgt. Jeff Simpson. "It's kind of neat to be a part of history."

Flight crews said they wouldn't be able to take off without support crews. Montana's service men and women said they'd like to travel to Haiti to help in a more direct fashion, but they're glad to support the mission any way they can.

"This is what I wanted to join the military for," Rue said. "I wanted to help."

Montana's connection with Haiti doesn't end with the guard. Hundreds of other active duty servicemen and women from The Treasure State are stationed across the globe helping in any way they're asked. When on the ground in Honduras picking up supplies the crew I was traveling with ran into Master Sgt. Michael Campbell. He was born and raised in Billings.

"It's important to help out in Haiti, because those people need help," he said. "They don't have any infrastructure anymore."

Whatever role Montana's men and women play, it's clear their service is vital to the mission as a whole.

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 1000 Characters Left

KULR-8 News, Sports, Weather and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.

Your Weather Authority

Icon
Current Temp 23.0 °F
Overcast
Wind : Northeast at
12.7 mph
Humidity : 72 %
Pressure : 30.21 in
More Weather

Party America Sky Cam

More Weather

On Demand

YouNews

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

Links We Like