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C-17 crew delivers humanitarian aid to Pakistan

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Peter Borys
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan --  More earthquake relief supplies arrived here Oct. 11 on a C-17 Globemaster III flying from the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing.

A mixed crew of five active-duty and Air Force Reserve Command Airmen from McChord Air Force Base, Wash., landed with about 50 tons of food and shelter equipment.

Islamabad is an operations hub for relief efforts, where supplies are picked up and transported by helicopter some 70 miles north to the hardest hit areas. An earthquake with a magnitude 7.6 hit the region Oct. 8.

Despite being heavily tasked for Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, members of the C-17 crew said they were honored to fly the mission.

“It feels pretty gratifying,” said Capt. Andy Schwaderer, aircraft commander. “We know that what we’re doing here today is really going to benefit those in need.

“For the past two and a half years I’ve been flying, it’s been mostly to Iraq and Afghanistan in support of OIF and OEF. But today it’s a little bit different, and I do expect that we will be flying another two or three missions here before we’re done.”

First Lt. Dan Appel, another C-17 pilot with the 379th AEW, flew Hurricane Katrina relief missions and gave his perspective on the earthquake.

“No matter how often you see this kind of devastation, whether it’s at home or abroad, you never get used to it,” he said. “Our hearts go out to all of the victims of this disaster. We’re dedicated to the mission and stand ready to support as needed.”

Col. Richard Walberg, 818th Contingency Response Group commander from McGuire AFB, N.J., arrived in Islamabad two hours before the C-17 and was busy getting his team ready.

“Our guys are setting up a tent city and our operations center while at the same time we are unloading this first C-17 full of relief supplies,” he said. “I have about 45 people on the ground who will give us the ability to run things 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Even though we’re getting good things done, we’ve still got a lot of work to do.”

The Air Mobility Command response units are the Air Force’s global reach crisis response force. They provide deployment support such as command and control and initial airfield operations.

Maj. James Jamir, an Air Force Reserve instructor pilot with the 379th AEW, said the support being given to the people of Pakistan will have positive, long-lasting effects.

“What we are doing here in Pakistan is just another example of how great the United States is,” he said. “We’re building strong relationships and making history, but most importantly we’re saving lives.”