Photo By 1st Lt. Kali Gradishar | Pfc. Joseph Allik, UH-60 Black Hawk crew chief of the 16th Combat Aviation Brigade...... read more read more
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PANO AQIL AIR BASE, Pakistan – U.S. Navy Vice Admiral Mike LeFever, commander of the Office of the Defense Representative Pakistan, paid a visit to U.S and Pakistani servicemembers at Pano Aqil and Ghazi Air Bases, Sept. 25 and 27, respectively, to personally thank them for their contributions to flood relief efforts in Pakistan.
When torrential rains began falling in late July, U.S. military aircraft and service members were on alert and ready to assist with both fixed-wing and rotary-wing assets. Rain continued to fall and river banks widened, requiring an increase in operations to transport relief supplies and evacuate people out of high-risk and isolated areas.
Various units were tasked to assist the Pakistan government and military in conducting flood relief missions throughout the country.
LeFever imagined many troops were wondering, “‘What’s in store for us?’ Little did you know you were going to come here to Pakistan and do what I call a different kind of urban renewal,” he said to a group soldiers from the 16th Combat Aviation Brigade from Fort Wainwright, Alaska. “I know some of you guys have been in combat. To shift from combat to humanitarian assistance shows the caliber of you all – the soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines we have – to be able to shift like that and to be able to do it so well.”
Since the humanitarian mission in Pakistan began in late July, U.S. military aircraft have transported more than 11 million pounds of supplies and evacuated more than 18,000 people.
“The Pakistan military, as well as the government and the people, have been extremely grateful for the operations,” said LeFever while visiting Marines with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit at Pano Aqil Air Base. “The reception that we had to be a guest at their bases in different locations … has just been marvelous. The relationship and the integration have just been seamless.”
As a true joint effort the U.S. service members have made efforts to build relationships with their Pakistani counterparts as they assist one another in bringing aid to those in need.
“I think they have a sense of pride in what they’re doing,” said LeFever of troops providing humanitarian assistance. They’re also gaining “the great experience of meeting a true friend in Pakistan and developing that relationship and understanding sometimes it’s not everything you read in the paper about Pakistan -- the people are truly marvelous and special and caring for each other, and very warm and receptive to us.”
Hundreds of soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines, along with a number of fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, have deployed and forward deployed to support the humanitarian mission in Pakistan after floods affected more than 20 million people and left 1/5 of the country under water.
“I can’t thank you enough for being here – leaving your families to be able to do such a great mission for a country that’s a strategic partner,” the Vice Admiral said to the troops during his visit. This was “an opportunity to get down and personally thank… the men and women of these units that have done so well and are representing the country so proudly.”
| Date Taken: | 09.29.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 09.30.2010 12:06 |
| Story ID: | 57248 |
| Location: | PK |
| Web Views: | 242 |
| Downloads: | 17 |
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