Airmen assist residents in tornado relief efforts

  • Published
  • By Margaret Breihan
  • Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
WASHINGTON (AFNS) --  Airmen provided critical aid for elderly, uninsured and disabled people who were impacted by tornadoes April 25 through 28 that tore through the southern and midwest regions of the United States.

Chief Master Sgt. Mark Ericson, the Air Force tactical air command and control career field manager, said he felt a connection to the affected regions, particularly the East Ridge, Tenn., area from which his wife hails. This spurred him to send out the call for tactical air control party Airmen volunteers.

"TACPs are a special breed with whom I am proud to serve," Chief Ericson said. "These Airmen volunteered time off and leave to assist total strangers in a community far from their posts only because a fellow TACP asked them to ... it goes beyond their call of duty and proves their compassion and dedication to serve others in war and at home."

Airmen from the 15th Air Support Operations Squadron, Fort Stewart Ga., the 17th ASOS, Fort Benning, Ga., the 19th ASOS, Fort Campbell, Ky., 165th ASOS, Brunswick Ga., as well as volunteers from Washington, answered that call to help dozens of affected residents.

"(Volunteer Airmen will help these people) make sure they get their lives back together ... considering what they just went through," said Staff Sgt. James Aldredge.

TACPs collected donations to pay for necessary supplies before going to Tennessee, Chief Ericson said. The remaining money was given to two area churches that provided food and shelter for displaced people.

In total, the volunteers cleaned up 14 homes and cleared 26 large trees. The easiest was a simple debris clean up, the hardest involved seven large trees across two yards and a home, Chief Ericson said.

"The TACP volunteers did not fail to amaze me with their hard work and compassion for the victims," the chief said. "Whether it was sharing kind words, listening to the victims stories or providing a hug all while performing back-breaking work all day without complaint -- the amount of work accomplished in two and a half days was staggering."