Hawaii Guard members give Pacific Angel a lift

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Cohen A. Young
  • Defense Media Activity-Hawaii
KUPANG, Indonesia (AFNS) --  More than 80 active duty, Air National Guard and Reserve medical and engineering Airmen are providing humanitarian assistance in Indonesia and Timor Leste with help from the Hawaii Air National Guard.

A C-17 Globemaster III aircrew from the 204th Airlift Squadron at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, dropped off the Operation Pacific Angel 2009 team here July 15.

Pacific Angel is a Pacific Air Forces humanitarian assistance operation in the Asia-Pacific region led by 13th Air Force officials from Hickam AFB. Two Pacific Angel teams are operating through July 24; one here and another in Timor Leste.

"I like this mission because we have a humanitarian [operation], and we are carrying doctors and nurses," Master Sgt. Joseph Salvador, a 14-year Guard member and lead loadmaster said. Sergeant Salvador is a native of Oahu, Hawaii.

The C-17 crew dropped off two groups to support Pacific Angel. One group remained in Kupang while the other group moved on to Dili, Timor Leste. The second group was transported to Dili by way of a C-130 Hercules aircrew from the 176th Wing at Kulis Air National Guard Base, Alaska.

"It's cool that we get to help support this group that is going to provide humanitarian relief," said Tech. Sgt. Kimberly Kido, a six-year loadmaster. Sergeant Kido is a native of Oahu, Hawaii.