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Sailors from Navy Reserve Operational Support Unit (OSU) 1914 attached to Navy Operational Support Center (NOSC) Fort Carson, Colo., partnered up with, Black Forest Together (BFT), to assist a family affected by the Black Forest fire in 2013.
Black Forest Together helps people recover, rebuild and restore their lives through the help of local volunteers, military members and other local organizations.
Donna Arkowski, BFT volunteer coordinator, directed the local Sailors with projects such as chipping wood, gathering debris and timber to be chipped, placing log barriers on hillsides to prevent further erosion due to heavy rainfall and fixing a fence line that covered over 20 acres of land.
“It is rather unusual that we even have Sailors here in the Rocky Mountains, and to work along-side this group of motivated, mature, energetic and extremely compassionate people was absolutely phenomenal,” said Arkowski. “We were very honored that these Sailors partnered with us for this community service project.”
“It is clear that they are dedicated to their military service, and are incredible representatives of this nation's US Navy,”
Boatswain’s Mate Seaman Benjamin Bowers, helped evacuate his uncle’s family that was directly affected by the Black Forest Fire and is now helping others in need.
“I enlisted because I want to be challenged and also to help people,” said Bowers. “It’s hard work but I love doing this for others.”
Property owner Patty Olney lost everything in the fire including her equipment necessary to keep her dog kennel business going. Olney received word two weeks before that she was getting some help on some much needed work on her property.
“Words can’t say how much I feel about all the help these Sailors are giving,” sail Olney. “I can’t say how much gratitude I have to each and every one of them as it would take a lifetime.”
Lt. Cmdr. John Dietrich, OSU 1914 commanding officer, supervised and worked alongside his Sailors. He used this event as not only a way to give back to the community but also to have his Sailors work together.
“Being in an OSU unit, our Sailors do not deploy or generally work together, except for training and administrative duties,” said Dietrich. “This event allowed them to get out and work on a common goal, establish and lead teams and delegate responsibilities.”
“Most of our missions are on a national or global scale,” he said. “To be able to get out in our local community and do humanitarian work makes a big local impact and positively affects the members of our community. That makes us feel like we have really made a difference where we work and live.”
| Date Taken: | 09.17.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 09.18.2016 08:22 |
| Story ID: | 209921 |
| Location: | COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, US |
| Web Views: | 95 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Local Sailors Volunteer to Assist Black Forest Fire Victim, by CPO Gilbert Bolibol, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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