Photo By Sgt. Juanita Philip | Sgt. Rick Lane, a crew chief with the Alpha Company 1/230th Assault Helicopter...... read more read more
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VIRGIN ISLANDS (Sept. 26, 2017) An aviation unit from the Tennessee National Guard touched down on St. Croix on Thursday, Sept. 14, to assist with the Hurricane Irma relief efforts in the Virgin Islands. More than three weeks after Hurricane Irma, they are still here helping the Virgin Islands rebuild their infrastructure.
The Alpha Company 1/230th Assault Helicopter Battalion deployed 34 personnel, four UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters, and support trailers and Humvees to assist the VI in its time of need.
“We here to hopefully bring people and equipment where they need to go, water food, whatever have you,” said Warrant Officer Danny Randolph, a Black Hawk pilot with the unit.
“Just to help people start the healing and rebuilding process.”
The TNNG quickly assembled the unit members in the early hours after Hurricane Irma, the first Category 5 storm, passed through the territory on Wednesday, Sept. 6.
“It’s a small contingent that stood in less than 24 hours to come here with the help of the Air Force,” Randolph stated.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, the 1/230th AHB flew numerous missions daily to St. Thomas and St. John in support of relief efforts from the Virgin Islands National Guard’s Charles F. Blair Aviation Facility on St. Croix.
“We’re just glad that we got tasked with this mission, because everyone has been passionate about coming down here to help,” he said.
The unit members embraced the tasks and they, along with the VING personnel at the aviation building, worked as a team with to accomplish the mission.
“This is the type of mission I joined the National Guard to do. I hope we can support the task force and the people of the United States Virgin Islands with our helicopters and personnel,” said Maj. Bradley Pray, the executive officer with the unit.
While the unit was assisting with the efforts, Hurricane Maria, another Category 5 storm, struck the territory two weeks after Irma.
“Now there’s a lot more of assessment of the damage than there was before,” Randolph remarked on his observations of relief efforts.
“It’s changed a little bit. I think there’s a little bit of urgency to the missions now, than after Irma, also, a different type of aid is being administered now as opposed to Irma.”
Due to the additional storm that had struck the territory. The mission has changed somewhat, but the unit is still here assisting. More officials has visited the territory.
A lot more government officials are coming through said Randolph. “We had a visit from the NBG [National Guard Bureau] Chief [Gen. Joseph Lengyel]; the administrator of FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency] came through.”
During their many missions over the islands, the crews have taken note of how the infrastructure has changed between the two powerful hurricanes and the ensuing efforts. “There was a lot more damage and devastation, there is a lot more rebuilding to be done,” he observed.
“It seems to be that this particular relief after Maria is instead of just rebuilding structure, it’s more about sustaining life.”
“A lot of people out there don’t have the essentials things like water, food and just housing over their heads,” he went on to say.
With the return of the existing aid, a unit from Missouri has joined the efforts with four additional UH-60L Black Hawks.
“We initially came down here with four helicopters, Missouri has brought four from their state, we have two more coming,” he stated.
“Kentucky beat us down here with two, so totally on ground we have 12, but that will go back down to 10 when Kentucky leaves here shortly since they’ve been here the longest.”
When all is said and done, the relief efforts have been a great opportunity for numerous states and territories to work toward a common goal. “Everybody from the Tennessee Army National Guard has been super excited to be here to help,” said Randolph.
“The VI National Guard has done everything to help us in anything that we do as far as housing, communications, contacts we’re working right along with the VI Guard in our aviation operations.”
In addition to being a pilot, Randolph is the flight operations officer in charge with his unit. When he is not flying missions, he and other flight operations personnel from the TNNG coordinated with the VING aviation personnel in flight operations support.
“It really could not work any better because it helps and it’s always best to have someone here in the local territory to plug you in to the places and things you need to know. Their cooperation has been paramount to mission success for sure.”
“We’re just glad that we got tasked with this mission, because everyone has been passionate about coming down here to help.”
Another unit with the TNNG is also on ground to support relief operations out of St. Croix. The 164th Logistics Readiness Squadron, 164th Airlift Wing Air National Guard out of Memphis, Tennessee is in control of the Air Terminal Operations Center on the St. Croix airport.
| Date Taken: | 09.26.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 10.06.2017 14:03 |
| Story ID: | 250862 |
| Location: | ST. CROIX, VI |
| Hometown: | JOHNSON CITY, MO, US |
| Hometown: | NASHVILLE, TN, US |
| Hometown: | ST. CROIX, VI |
| Web Views: | 440 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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