Photo By Master Sgt. Mark Moore | U.S. Army Sgt. Chris Stanberry, center, and Spc. Aaron Franqui move household goods...... read more read more
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By Sgt. 1st Class Darren D. Heusel
Joint Force Headquarters Public Affairs
MOORE, Okla. – The outpouring of support from around the country, and indeed the world, in the wake of the May 20 tornado has been overwhelming.
That includes the generosity of 13 soldiers from the Mountain Post at Fort Carson, Colo., who were granted a four-day pass to come to Oklahoma to assist in the cleanup effort.
The soldiers, comprised of members from the 4th Engineer Battalion, 555th Engineer Brigade, loaded up a U-Haul and a pickup truck full of supplies donated by the residents of the Fort Carson community and arrived around 2 a.m. Friday, May 24, in Norman, Okla., about 10 minutes to the south of Moore, where they are all staying with a friend of one of the soldiers.
“We all volunteered to come down,” said Sgt. Aaron Franqui with the 4th Engineer Battalion. “We all paid for gas out of our own pocket. This is the right thing to do, so we took a four-day pass to come down and help out.
“Nobody said we had to,” Franqui added. “We serve the people of the United States and we live the Army values. That’s what we’re doing right now.”
The soldiers said they dropped off their supplies with some soldiers from Fort Sill, Okla., who are making supply runs to Shawnee, Okla., and Little Axe, Okla., communities also devastated by the tornados on May 19 and May 20.
“It’s empowering,” said Sgt. Andrew Cutsforth, also a member of the 4th Engineer Battalion. “It’s nice to see the looks on the people’s faces when we come to help out. The camaraderie just from this community alone is outstanding.
“It’s heartbreaking at the same time to see all the devastation,” Cutsforth said.
The soldiers said when they first arrived on the scene, they checked in with one of the volunteer organizations, who asked them to assist Martha Ann Rusche, 32, whose mobile home received some major damage from the tornado.
Rusche, whose home is located about two blocks south of where the most devastated area is, said she thought a group of angels were sent from heaven when the soldiers showed up to assist her with the cleanup effort.
“There was a church group that came by earlier and talked to us for a long time,” Rusche said. “I didn’t know if I would have any help and the next thing I know this Army group shows up. I’ve seen (soldiers) in the neighborhood since this happened and it’s just what they do.
“As Americans, we hold each other’s hands and pray together,” she added. “If anyone has a loss of faith, they need to come check out what’s going on in these neighborhoods and it will restore their faith. These guys are like angels.”
Staff Sgt. Christopher Holland, also with the 4th Engineer Battalion, said it makes him sad to see all the devastation, adding, “It’s definitely a life-changer for me.”
“I wish I could do more and stay longer,” he said.
Oklahoma Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Myles Deering and Oklahoma State Command Sgt. Maj. Steve Jensen were touring the area, talking with Oklahoma Army National Guardsmen, who were assisting other soldiers affected by the tornado when he noticed the Fort Carson soldiers lending a hand.
Deering saw some of the soldiers wearing t-shirts and other distinguishable clothing that identified them as soldiers, so he stopped his vehicle, got out and visited with the men, thanking them for their efforts.
“For these soldiers to volunteer their own time to come down is just outstanding,” Deering said. “Whether here or abroad, our service members live the Army values.”
Other soldiers making the trip from Fort Carson were Lt. Col. Daniel Hibner, Capt. Kevin Balentine, 1st Lt. Chad Baker, Sgt. Chris Stanberry, Sgt. Jermichael Wilson, Spc. Justin Haynes, Spc. Jonathan Nizzi, Spc. Nate Stevens, Spc. Justin Salmons and Spc. Isaac Mendoza.
Rusche said she’s got a lot of family and friends in the military and no matter what’s going on in the world, it seems they have a positive attitude about everything.
“These soldiers have been out here singing and cracking jokes to keep everyone’s spirits up,” she said. “I appreciate them so much. I love America. If I wasn’t married, I’d kiss every one of them.”
| Date Taken: | 05.26.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 05.26.2013 18:29 |
| Story ID: | 107607 |
| Location: | OK, US |
| Web Views: | 463 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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