'Team Charleston' crews deliver gifts all year long
Christmas is often referred to as the "season of giving" — a time to reach out to family, friends and those in need in our community. For the airmen of Team Charleston, the spirit of the season is something we display every day and one that will always be required of us.
Most of us in the Lowcountry will take great care to choose presents, wrapping and delivering gifts to bring a little joy to others. In the same way, our airmen will continue to work around the clock "wrapping" and shipping pallets of supplies aboard C-17s to deliver a little hope to those who have none. Some might say that for Charleston AFB, this season of giving continues throughout the year.
Our mission statement is to "Take the Fight to the Enemy." We fight our nation's enemies around the world so we don't have to fight them here at home. Winning the global war on terrorism overseas is extremely important, but sometimes our nation asks Team Charleston to fight a different "enemy." Sometimes the "enemy" is a natural disaster and the "fight" is delivering humanitarian relief supplies. Sometimes the "fight" is against time if we are performing an aeromedical evacuation mission for a wounded soldier or a premature infant born to a family stationed overseas. Whatever the mission, Team Charleston stands ready.
On July 2, Charleston airmen had the opportunity to hand-deliver the "gift" of freedom to three Americans. These American were rescued after five years of terrorist group captivity in Colombia. Charleston airmen flew them home to San Antonio, Texas.
Sometimes our mission sends us to parts of the world where people rely on our nation for food, water, shelter and relief. This past August, Team Charleston and other military units were called upon to provide humanitarian relief to individuals displaced by conflict in the Republic of Georgia.
Charleston alone provided 490 tons of palletized cargo during the Georgia crisis. The cots, blankets, meals ready-to-eat and medical supplies that were delivered may seem like a small gesture, but the impact was huge. If Christmas is truly the "season of giving," then the spirit of the season was celebrated early this year.
While the mission often sends Team Charleston around the world, we continue to reach out to those near to us — our community, surrounding towns and even fellow Americans that need help. In September, Team Charleston "Took the Fight to the Enemy" by responding to Hurricane Ike. Two aircrews from Charleston headed to Texas after stopping to pick up medical supplies and equipment from Pope AFB, N.C., and MacDill AFB, Fla. During this mission, our crew carried 95,238 pounds of medical supplies and equipment to parts of Texas, ultimately saving lives and delivering hope to Americans in need.
As members of our local community and strong supporters of Team Charleston, you know what it means to give to a cause bigger than yourself. Charleston AFB has witnessed your unselfish attitude and constant support for our men and women of the armed forces. For that, we are so thankful.
Within the last year, we have seen your generosity reach people around the world. Through the Department of Defense Denton Program, Charleston AFB transported donated humanitarian supplies from non-governmental organizations on a space available basis.
Using the Denton program, civilian organizations in our community have donated relief supplies to assist developing countries — these items donated here are often delivered via C-17 as part of our continued far-reaching missions. Since October 2007, this giving community donated 572,716 pounds of relief supplies, and all were wrapped and packaged here at Charleston. Our C-17s delivered more than 280,000 pounds during numerous airlift and training missions and other Air Force aircraft moved the remainder. Airmen from the 437th Airlift Wing also recently processed and moved 60,000 pounds of locally donated aid to an orphanage in Honduras. This is a true testament to our wonderful community partners.
Thank you for continuing this season of giving year round and for the constant support you provide to our airmen and other military services. On behalf of our grateful airmen, we send a heartfelt Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Col. John "Red" Millander is commander of the 437th Airlift Wing at Charleston Air Force Base.
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