FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Members of the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB) at Fort Campbell are preparing to head to Puerto Rico to assist those affected by Hurricane Maria.
Division Public Affairs Officer Lt. Col. Martin O’Donnell confirmed to ClarksvilleNow that the 101st CAB is currently making preparations to deploy.
O’Donnell said eight HH60 Blackhawk helicopters will be transported to the island to support relief efforts through search and rescue, movement of supplies, and medevac evacuation.
“This is another incident where the 101st shows Americans helping other Americans and just another demonstration of our readiness, our ability to respond at a moment’s notice to help those in need,” Lt. Col. O’Donnell said.
The group, dubbed Team Medevac, consists of more than 70 personnel and eight HH-60 medevac Blackhawk helicopters from the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st ABN DIV (AASLT).
A C-5M Super Galaxy aircraft assigned to the 22nd Airlift Squadron, 60th Air Mobility Wing and another assigned to the 68th Airlift Squadron, 433rd Airlift Wing transported the personnel and equipment to José Aponte de la Torre Airport, in Ceiba, a coastal municipality on the northeast of the island.
“We have been called forward and will provide a unique capability with our medevac helicopters,” said Maj. Kurtis P. Evick, Team Medevac commander. “We will help save lives and mitigate suffering, and we will continue to serve the American people of Puerto Rico until we are no longer needed.”
Twenty-second AS and 68th AS Airmen, and 101st ABN DIV (AASLT) Soldiers worked throughout the day, Sept. 26, to load the helicopters onto the aircraft.
Once in Puerto Rico, the Airmen and Soldiers will unload the helicopters. The Soldiers will then place the aircraft into operation and conduct test flights before conducting their first mission.
“What’s happened in Puerto Rico is nothing short of a tragedy, and I am honored to support this relief effort and to help the citizens of our nation,” said 1st. Sgt. Jason C. Straub, Team Medevac senior enlisted leader. “Our Soldiers are trained, our aircraft are prepped and we are ready to go.”
Although the division relocated many of its assets in preparation to support Hurricane Irma relief efforts, this deployment will mark the first instance of hurricane relief in the 101st ABN DIV’s (AASLT) 75-year history.
“The 101st Airborne Division has responded to numerous civil emergencies, but this is the first time we have supported commonwealth and federal officials to provide hurricane relief,” said Lt. Col. Martin L. O’Donnell, 101st ABN DIV (AASLT) spokesperson. “While noteworthy, the occurrence is not unique. For the last 75 years, the division has responded to threats near and far.”
According to the Associated Press, The U.S. has ramped up its response to the humanitarian crisis in Puerto Rico, even as President Donald Trump brought up the island’s struggles before Hurricane Maria struck. He tweeted about “billions of dollars” in debt to “Wall Street and the banks which, sadly, must be dealt with.”
The Trump administration has tried to blunt criticism that its response to Hurricane Maria has fallen short of its efforts in Texas and Florida after the recent hurricanes there.
Five days after the Category 4 storm slammed into Puerto Rico, many of the more than 3.4 million U.S. citizens in the territory were still without adequate food, water and fuel. Officials said electrical power may not be fully restored for more than a month.