Photo By Master Sgt. Jennifer Redente | Army Sgt. Brandon Holt updates the driller's log, which is used to record the depth...... read more read more
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By Air Force Staff Sgt. Jennifer Redente
Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa Public Affairs
CAMP LEMONIER, Djibouti – Army National Guardsmen from Mooresville, N.C., are preparing to redeploy in mid-January after providing more than 10,000 Djiboutians water by drilling 10 wells and repairing four in a 12-month period.
Including three months of training, the nine members of the 1132nd Engineering Detachment have spent 15 months away from their friends and family, and while they look forward to their return home, they have enjoyed their experience in Djibouti.
"We are extremely lucky," said Army Sgt. 1st Class William R. Brown, 1132nd Engineering Detachment well drilling team lead driller and acting first sergeant. "We have been able to go out and do a job that has a far greater impact than any other entity in the Horn of Africa. We have gone to villages and changed their lives, potentially forever. It is a great feeling knowing our job, if done correctly, can save countless lives. It allows our team to cast a positive image for other Americans who come behind us."
The well drillers are excited to be returning home, but the well drillers are glad to have had the experience of helping Djiboutians in need.
"Before the wells were completed, there were villages that solely relied on water being trucked in from Djibouti City," said Brown. "The water was only delivered two to three times a week as long as the water truck was running. No truck - meant no water."
When the well drillers first arrived, there were concerns they were not going to be able to help many people.
"We didn't really know what to expect when we arrived here," said Brown. "The well drilling units before us said we would be lucky to get two wells drilled during our time here. We were concerned we would come here for a year and not be able to do our job. This was all before we were able to get the new rig."
The well drillers were able to lease a civilian piece of equipment, which is better suited for the terrain of eastern Africa.
"While we had our troubles getting started and the proper equipment to succeed, I'm leaving here a better person for having met, worked with and interacted with those who I have served with," said Brown. "We have had the opportunity to work outside our job field to help civil affairs teams, Marines, Seabees and some of our coalition partners. All of those experiences were great and have taught me valued lessons."
Each well driller has their own memories from being deployed to the Horn of Africa, but for some, it was the sheer fact of a missions being accomplished.
"It's a great feeling," said Army Sgt. Rafael L. Paniagua, 1132nd Engineering Detachment well driller mechanic. "It's amazing the little things we take for granted back in the states ... like running water. Being able to see an end result is something I've enjoyed every time we've completed a well."
Fellow well driller Army Sgt. Bobby E. Keeling, 1132nd Engineering Detachment derrick hand, finds it most meaningful to see the first drop of water.
"What I find most enjoyable is finding water," said Keeling. "You know you've done something that will benefit people for a lifetime. It's not about us. It's about them."
Brown's most memorable moment was giving aid to a young girl who fell into a fire.
"An elder of a possible future well site asked if we could look at the hand of a little girl who had been burned after falling in a fire," said Brown. "I grabbed my aid bag, and we went to look. She had second and third degree burns from mid forearm down to her hand. Her burnt left arm was three times the size of her right arm with hanging skin and cracked and oozing sores. Having a medical background, I recognized her urgent need for help directed [a member of the team] to ask permission from the Joint Operations Center to transport her to a hospital.
"While he called the JOC, I cleaned and treated the wounds with burn cream and antibiotic cream," said the lead well driller. "I knew she was in danger of loosing her arm, if not her life, if we couldn't get her to a facility equipped to scrub and clean her hand properly. The JOC gave the go-ahead, and we were able to transport her to a hospital to fix her up.
"She's made a miraculous recovery with little scarring and the complete use of her hand," said Brown.
The well drilling unit is part of the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa mission to prevent conflict, promote regional stability and protect coalition interest in order to prevail against extremism.
| Date Taken: | 01.02.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 01.03.2008 03:05 |
| Story ID: | 15143 |
| Location: | CAMP LEMONNIER, DJ |
| Web Views: | 124 |
| Downloads: | 98 |
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