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Grissom reservists help send relief to Haiti

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jami K. Lancette
  • 434th ARW Public Affairs
GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. --  Air Force reservists here partnered with Airmen from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., and Joint Base Charleston, S.C., to provide more than 45,000 pounds of food to Haiti as part of a humanitarian relief mission under the Denton Program, Dec. 7.

The Denton Program is a Department of Defense humanitarian assistance transportation program, which provides continual transportation of supplies such as agricultural equipment, clothing, educational supplies, food, and medical supplies to countries in need of assistance.

"Over 9,000 people will benefit from this mission, and that's a pretty big impact," said Ken Hundemer, an operations manager with Charleston's 437th Aerial Port Squadron, who coordinates Denton missions.

According to Hundemer, a majority of the food on this mission was set to be delivered to Haitian school children and those living in an orphanage.

"You've got all these kids and families coming in on a daily basis to these facilities, and these folks are trying as best as they can to take care of them," he explained.

To provide relief to that many people, it took an all-hands-on-deck effort from 434th Air Refueling Wing Airmen here as they received nearly 38 pallets of food and prepared it for air shipment before loading it on a 305th Air Mobility Wing KC-10 Extender aircraft from McGuire for transport.

Contained in those pallets were rice soy meals infused with protein, vitamins and minerals.

"It's almost like a meal ready to eat; basically they take it out, add hot water, cook it up and give it out," explained Hundemer. "And, from what I've been told, they can really help out with a lot of the malnutrition problems they have there."

Helping Haitians defeat hunger was nothing new for Master Sgt. Laurie Latchaw, Grissom's 49th Aerial Port deputy superintendent, who has supported 10 previous Denton missions.

"I'm always proud when we can help the less fortunate," said Latchaw. "It gives us a sense of accomplishment and purpose."

Although this was not the first Denton mission for Latchaw, she said it was a first for many of the other 49th APF and 434th Logistics Readiness Squadron Airmen who helped her, providing a benefit to all involved.

"It's really a win-win situation," said Hundemer. "The Haitian people receive aid; the donating and recipient agencies get this aid to the Haitians in a cost-effective way; the ground support unit gets the opportunity to train on building cargo and working with some different airframes; and the flying units meet currency and proficiency requirements they have as flyers."

Grissom's involvement and location was also an added benefit.

"Having Master Sergeant Latchaw and her folks participate in this was huge because without her help and the aerial port flight at Grissom helping out with getting this cargo prepared for airlift we wouldn't have been able to do it," Hundemer explained. "Being able to bring it into Grissom, a relatively local location saves (the donating agency) a tremendous amount of money in transportation costs, and in turn, the savings allow them to go out and buy more food or get more supplies to send down there."

"When I found out what we were shipping out, I thought it was really neat the Air Force was involved in something to help out people who are less fortunate," said Staff Sgt. Steve Bourff, 49th APF aerial port specialist. "I thought it was really rewarding to do something to help other people out."

Bourff also said the mission showcased how the Air Force is not just about combat.

"We're out to help people, not hurt people," he elaborated. "We just want to help."

The 434th ARW is the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command. Airmen and aircraft from the 434th ARW routinely deploy around the globe in support of the Air Force mission and U.S. strategic objectives.

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(Editor's note: Tech. Sgt. Mark R. W. Orders-Woempner, 434th ARW Public Affairs, contributed to this article.)