Deployed Airmen prepare for life at Keesler after Katrina

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Tim Beckham
  • 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) --  In most cases, when a loved one deploys it is the families back home who are worried, but for some the tables have turned here after the destruction Hurricane Katrina caused.

A group of Airmen here who are deployed from Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., experienced the frustration of being away from their families when disaster struck back home.

“My initial reaction was concern for the safety of my husband, Eric, and 3-year-old son, Chase,” said Capt. Lisa Iverson, an aeromedical evacuation operations officer at the contingency aeromedical staging facility here. “I was also worried about all of the essential personnel back at Keesler who would be required to stay in the hospital and shelter.”

Staff Sgt. Fred Mathis, an aeromedical clerk at the staging, shared many of these concerns for his family as well.

“My wife is pregnant, and I have a 3-year-old daughter back home, so I was very worried initially,” he said. “My wife has a mission-critical job so she had to stay (at Keesler).”

After the initial shock was over, these Airmen’s minds were put at ease just knowing their families were safe and out of harm’s way.

“When the evacuation order was given, my family evacuated to Galveston, Texas, to stay with my parents,” Captain Iverson said. “A great weight was lifted knowing that they were out of harm’s reach, and I could focus 100 percent on the CASF mission.”

Sergeant Mathis also feels better knowing his family is safe.

“I have only slept about 12 hours since the hurricane struck a couple of days ago,” he said. “Last night I finally got a full night’s sleep.”

Many deployed Airmen here are experiencing the reality that even though their rotation is coming to an end, they may not have a home to return to.

“Right now, I don’t even know if I will have a functional house or vehicle once I return,” the captain said. “It has been difficult, because we have to expect and prepare for the worst but hope for the best.”

Sergeant Mathis does not know how bad his apartment was damaged from the hurricane either.

“I know my car is gone, but I don’t know what the inside of my apartment looks like,” Sergeant Mathis said. “I do know the building is still standing though.”

Even the Keesler dorms were damaged from the storm.

“I live on the first floor of the dorms, and I have heard that it’s totally flooded,” said Airman 1st Class Ryan Phillips, a medical technician at the staging facility.

Most of these Airmen are scheduled to return home in the next week, but now they do not know where they will end up.

“What was briefed is that we will stay at our port of entry until we hear otherwise,” Airman Phillips said.

“We will have to be patient and very flexible and trust that the Air Force always takes care of its people,” Captain Iverson said.

Their thoughts may be on the people back home, but their actions are still with the patients here.

“I’m just trying to stay focused on our job,” Airman Phillips said. “I’m staying busy taking care of the patients and giving our replacements a smooth transition.”

Overall, these Airmen’s spirits are high and their thoughts are on the ones they love.

“My family is a very strong one, and we will be fine regardless of the outcome of the storm,” said the captain. “We have to be grateful for the little things, and I am very grateful that my family is safe.”