Joint force employs humanitarian effort in American Samoa

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. LuCelia Ball
  • Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs
HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii (AFNS) --  Two C-17 Globemaster IIIs departed here Sept. 30 with approximately 100 military personnel to provide humanitarian assistance to the island of American Samoa.

The island nation was struck Sept. 29 by an 8.3 magnitude earthquake generating 15-foot waves and destroying whole villages. 

At least 111 people are reported dead in American Samoa, neighboring Samoa and Tonga.

The operation is a joint military effort shared by personnel from the 735th Air Mobility Squadron, 15th Airlift Wing, 154th Medical Group, Hawaii Air National Guard, and a Hawaii National Guard chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high yield explosives enhanced response force.

"We will provide search and rescue missions, medical triage and treatment, command and control, communications support, damage assessment and hazardous material capability," said Maj. Dave Lowery, the commander 293rd Combat Communications Squadron, who is the deputy task force commander for the operation. "Our assets will allow us to sustain life support for 96 hours."

Part of the equipment and supplies include cargo vans, trailers, pickup trucks, bottled water, meals ready to eat and medical supplies.

"We are ready for anything out there," Major Lowery said. "We want to efficiently and effectively support the impacted areas and ensure our people are safely and properly equipped. Our presence there should reduce the public's anxiety, mitigate any danger and restore critical functions."

U.S. military personnel in the Pacific train routinely for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations and are postured to rapidly deploy around the globe in response to crises across the military spectrum from natural disasters to conflict.

"As soon as we arrive, we'll integrate with the local military to provide the support where needed," Major Lowery said. "We're here to help."

American Samoa is a U.S. unorganized, unincorporated territory located in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of the sovereign state of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa. With an estimated population of 57,291, it is the only U.S. possession in the southern hemisphere.