Airmen, families provide relief to hurricane victims

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Erin Tindell
  • 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho (AFPN) --  Renee Siddall knew something needed to be done.

When she turned on the news the morning of Aug. 30 and saw the trail of destruction left by Hurricane Katrina, she immediately went to Mountain Home Mayor Joe B. McNeal’s office and asked how the city, more than 2,000 miles away from the affected areas, was going to help. When the mayor said there were no plans, Ms. Sidall responded, “Here I am.”

Ms. Siddall and her husband, Master Sgt. Greg Siddall, of the 366th Equipment Maintenance Squadron, decided to start Operation Idaho Angels, an organization designed to give help to the Gulf Coast communities. Already in existence for two weeks, the effort has collected hundreds of much-needed supplies for the displaced citizens of Hurricane Katrina.

The organization has received donations from Airmen here and from the local community. The room they operate out of is like a one-stop shop -- folded clothes in the back, boxes of food and medical supplies on the left and right, and stacks upon stacks of water bottles. Every week, donations are loaded onto pallets and shipped to the Red Cross.

The Siddalls said the donations are just a small way to help those who have lost so much.

“Somebody’s got to love them,” Ms. Sidall said. “They have nothing.”

Staff Sgt. LaMonte Marshall of the 366th Services Squadron knows all too well how residents of the Gulf Coast have been left with nothing.

Sergeant Marshall grew up in New Orleans and has so many relatives there he does not know the exact number.

“Hurricane Katrina was a very catastrophic event for my family,” he said. “I have several brothers and sisters who lost everything … their homes and personal belongings that were of sentimental value to them, and they cannot be replaced. But the most important thing is their lives were spared by the grace of God.”

When Sergeant Marshall learned a hurricane was headed toward the Gulf Coast, he said he watched the news constantly.

“When I first heard a meteorologist say it was headed toward New Orleans I became a little concerned,” he said. “When I heard it was a Category 5, then I started to panic.”

He immediately called his family and friends urging them to evacuate and leave behind any valuables and focus on getting everyone out of the area. Some family members could not get out because of the high volume of people leaving the area at once. They were turned back and took shelter at the Superdome and the New Orleans Convention Center before being evacuated, he said.

His family is now spread across the nation -- in California, Illinois, northern Louisiana and Maryland. Some are even coming to stay with him here. They are dispersed, but Sergeant Marshall said they are all accounted for.

Cynthia James, a child development center provider here, is still waiting to hear those words. A native of Honduras, she and her family moved to Slidell, La., 20 miles east of New Orleans, when she was 12. Out of the 20 family members still in Slidell, two are unaccounted for and five lost everything in the hurricane.

“They lost their homes, valuables and even a furniture store during the storm,” she said. “They’re waiting for a miracle, and I’ve given the names of my missing family members to the Red Cross.”

Despite her family’s temporary setback, things are not all bad for Ms. James, thanks to people here. Ms. James sent a letter to the parents and co-workers at the CDC asking for donations for her family.

“Everybody has been great,” she said. “We shipped 10 boxes of clothes, toys, blankets, stuffed animals and money to help.”

The kindness displayed by people here is a testament to service before self.

“As servicemembers, we do perform a duty beyond the call of most American citizens,” said Chief Master Sgt. Allen Niksich, 366th Fighter Wing command chief. “But in service of our country, we are obligated to not only defend our country against our enemies, but to also care for others in their time of need.”

Even though the base community is miles and miles away from the Gulf Coast region, Airmen here have realized that something can be done.

“Never take life for granted, because you never know when your time of need will come,” Sergeant Marshall said. “Try and support those in need right now in whatever way you can, because good things are likely to happen to you.”