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Airmen serving beyond the blue for the Haitian People

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Andrew Caya
  • 914th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION, N.Y. --  During the past 26 years Lt. Col (Dr.) Victor Brown has served on different ends of the spectrum. On one end, the colonel has served in a mighty nation's military. On the other end he has served a humble country's people.

For more than two decades Colonel Brown, a 914th Aeromedical Staging Squadron dentist, has gone beyond his role as an U.S. Air Force Reservist, and traveled with the Wesleyan Medical Fellowship team to the Republic of Haiti, a tiny island in the Caribbean Ocean, to give medical and dental treatment to the Haitian people.

The other members of the church-based team come from western New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, and South Dakota. They all travel down to Haiti for two weeks annually and do what they can medically for the populations at different locations of the island.

"On the island, we set up our three-pronged medical clinic, consisting of medical consultations, pharmacy, and dental oral surgery, in the local church," said Colonel Brown. "After our camp is set up, it's right to work providing any kind of medical treatment we can give the Haitians."

Stepping outside their comfort zone is nothing new for the Brown family. Over the years, Colonel Brown has taken all of his immediate family members to Haiti to help him during his time down there.

Colonel Brown's daughter, 1st Lt. Carli Brown, 914th Logistics Readiness Squadron material management flight commander has followed in her father's footsteps and served in Haiti several times working for her father as a dental assistant.

The dire need and the lifestyle of the Haitians are not new for Lieutenant Brown, 26, as the tiny country has been a major part of her life.

"I grew up always knowing about Haiti and the misfortune that Haitians experience because my dad has gone 23 times over the last 26 years...I feel I 'grew up' with Haiti..."said Lieutenant Brown.

"I first went [to Haiti] when I was 14 years old; that was an eye-opening, humbling and incredible experience," said Lieutenant Brown. "Each trip has opened my eyes in a different way and taught me so much about humanity. My dad has always gone there so therefore, it was only natural to want to accompany him."

Colonel Brown's endeavors to Haiti commenced in the mid 1980's around the time his daughter, Lieutenant Brown was born.

"Back in 1985 my pastor invited his Houghton College roommate, Dr. Matt Woolsey to speak at our Free Methodist Church in Ulysses, Pennsylvania." said Colonel Brown. "I was "gung-ho" for Haiti from that time onward after listening to Dr. Woolsey. I could see that this opportunity would be adventure and service on the frontline of human need. I volunteered to go if the opportunity ever arose."

That opportunity to serve humanity came quite soon for the colonel.

"As it turned out, the next year Dr. Woolsey could not go. The team leader, Dr. John Nystrom from Houghton, New York invited me to go in Dr. Woolsey's place," said Dr. Brown. "The following year was the same scenario... and I had a spot on the Haiti team."

Both Lieutenant Brown and her father were affected by the 2010 earthquake which decimated a great part of the island.

"In 2010 our team departed Haiti on January 12 at 2:00pm. The earthquake occurred about three hours later. We were in the air on our way to JKF airport when it happened. We found out when we landed," said Lieutenant Brown. "Our plane was filled with Haitian Americans. It was a very somber time going through Immigrations and Customs at JFK with so much unknown tragedy behind us. The next few weeks were agonizing to see so much revealing devastating video on the TV."

Lieutenant Brown elaborated on how the team never stopped caring for the Haitian people even when the team was not on the tiny island.

"Communication with our friends in Haiti was difficult at first, but improved with internet and Skype," said Lieutenant Brown. "We were able to get dental equipment to a Haitian dentist friend of ours through Christian Aid Ministry of Ephrata, Pennsylvania. "We wired money to the rest of our friends as many had lost their homes and were facing a bleak future. We stayed in touch throughout 2010."

"In 2011, our team returned. It was surreal. Port-Au-Prince had the appearance that the earthquake had just happened a few weeks ago, not one full year ago."

"The streets had been cleared but only about 5% of the rubble has been addressed. Standing on a neighboring hill overlooking P-A-P there is a sea of blue tarps and tents. Out at Macieux in the mountains where we serve, the school building we use had been destroyed and was rebuilt. Within a mile, a place called Jackson, a large landslide had occurred with the earthquake. It covered and killed 3 children who were watering their animals in the river when the earthquake struck," the Lieutenant explained.

After an early morning memorial service on the anniversary of the earthquake, the team went right back to work with the Haitians.

"There seems to be a national consciousness to move on with life, to remember the loved ones lost, but to keep moving forward for the sake of their children and grand-children," said Lieutenant Brown.

Leadership in the 914th Airlift Wing have seen how much time and effort have dedicated not only to the United States military but to mankind.

"The Browns are the epitome of 'Service' especially for the decency of humanity," said 914th Logistics Readiness Squadron Commander Capt. Gina Pizziconi-Cupples. "Colonel Brown offered his expertise to the people of Haiti for over 20 years, not just after the devastating earthquake of 2010. Lieutenant Brown followed in her Father's footsteps the past three years; there is little doubt they will both continue to serve the country of Haiti in the future."

"For me I am drawn to Haiti as there is a special place in my heart for the country, culture and people from experiencing their love and generosity first hand," said Lieutenant Brown.

"I am humbled every time I go to Haiti by the unpretentious demeanor of the people who face tests of survival each day and yet keep a smile on their face," said Colonel Brown. "That's what a dentist likes to see most, a smile on the face!"