Missions Flown From Alaska And Hawaii

Alaska and Hawaii, the two closest states, are supporting American relief efforts by sending Air National Guardsmen and resources to the region devastated by the Dec. 26 earthquake and tsunamis, Guard spokesmen said.

Guardsmen are supporting the unprecedented relief effort for Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka and the nine other countries around the Indian Ocean that were hit by one of the most terrible natural disasters in recorded history, officials said.

The death toll surpassed 150,000 two weeks after the event. Countless more people were still unaccounted for, homeless and subject to the life-threatening effects of disease and lack of food and water, officials said.

The guardsmen are undertaking this mission at the same time that many others are heavily engaged in the war against terrorism at home and abroad, said Maj. Mike Haller, spokesman for the Alaska National Guard.

About 150 Alaska Air Guardsmen were involved or prepared to take part in the tsunami relief efforts, Major Haller said.

Brig. Gen. James Robinson, the Alaska Air Guard's chief of staff, has been assigned as second in command for the joint US military assistance group for Thailand. He is responsible for the daily activities of the joint relief effort, Major Haller said.

Three C-130 Hercules from the 144th Airlift Squadron at Kulis Air National Guard Base, Alaska, are on duty in Japan, assigned to support airlift operations for the recovery. About 25 guardsmen are involved in that mission.

About 120 guardsmen from the 210th, 211th and 212th Rescue Squadrons at Kulis are standing by to take two HC-130 rescue tankers and three HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters to the afflicted region if they are needed.

Meanwhile, Maj. Russell Wilmot III, an Alaska Air Guard intelligence officer, has served in the hard-hit Thailand resort town of Phuket with six people from the Anchorage Fire Department.

Major Wilmot is familiar with Thai military forces and speaks the country's language so he could offer the firefighters the necessary coordination to ensure their skills are properly used, Major Haller said.

The Hawaii Air Guardsmen are also helping, said spokesman Maj. Charles Anthony.

A KC-135 Stratotanker has flown a Department of Defense forensics team to Thailand to help identify victims. Two combat communications Airmen have been sent to the same country, he said.

Thirty-nine security forces Airmen will provide security for US forces in Indonesia, Major Anthony said.

This, however, is just the beginning of what world officials said they believe will be a long relief effort.

(ANN salutes by Army Master Sgt. Bob Haskell, National Guard Bureau)

FMI: www.ang.af.mil