Defense leaders praise Keesler resolve, spirit

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KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. (AFPN) --  The military’s highest-ranking officials leading post-Hurricane Katrina relief efforts toured here Sept. 4 and personally delivered reassuring words to the storm-battered base’s troops and family members.

The visiting delegation, led by Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld, included Gen. Richard B. Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Navy Adm. Timothy Keating, U.S. Northern Command commander; U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré, commander of the NORTHCOM’s recently established Joint Task Force-Katrina; and Army Maj. Gen. Harold Cross, Mississippi National Guard adjutant general.

After receiving a comprehensive post-hurricane overview, the leaders visited the base’s devastated housing and industrial areas. The tour was highlighted by a visit with Airmen, Marines and Sailors and their families, many of whom lost most or all of their worldly possessions.

Secretary Rumsfeld expressed condolences to those who are attempting to cope with stress and frustration in the storm’s wake stemming from the nation’s costliest natural disaster.

Telling them he had just come from an extensive aerial survey of Katrina’s worst-hit places, the secretary emphasized, “This base is blessed. As bad as it is (here), when you fly in a helicopter and see this area, it’s just amazing to see the damage that’s been done.”

The delegation expressed special thanks to many in the audience whose above-and-beyond efforts gained the attention of leaders here. They also lauded some of the more than 400 technical training students who volunteered to remain in place and help recovery operations.

“We appreciate the way you’re working as a team,” General Myers told the audience. “Our job is to make sure you get the resources to get the job done, get this place stood up and get everybody back on their feet.”

Despite Keesler’s relentless nonstop efforts to get the now-austere base functioning again, its people have embraced opportunities to show appreciation for their community neighbors. Just days after emerging from hurricane shelters, Airmen are participating in newly organized daily opportunities to deliver tractor-trailer convoys of humanitarian aid to local towns.

General Cross’s comments reaffirmed the mutual base-community goodwill.

“This is one of the best-supported military bases by a community in the United States,” he said. “They love Keesler Air Force Base, and I know Keesler loves Biloxi. You know their devastation.

“My heart and prayers go out to you that lost all your possessions, but you still have your lives, your health, your resolve and your resilience,” General Cross continued. Drawing on the words of poet Robert Frost, he added, “‘We have promises to keep and miles to go before we sleep.’ This is going to be a long, long marathon, not a sprint. Let’s all hang in there and help each other, because that’s our greatest strength; not our technology, but our love for one another.”