7 AS returns from hurricane mission to New Orleans

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kirsten Wicker
  • 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  Airmen from the 7th Airlift Squadron here returned Sept. 2 from a mission to New Orleans, La., to bring relief supplies and an aeromedical evacuation crew to assist officials during and after Hurricane Gustav. 

Pilot Captains Dave Morey, aircraft commander, Ben Wood, Vic Mota and loadmasters Senior Airman Rika Smith and Senior Airman Jeremy John, all 7th AS, crewed the C-17 Globemaster III on a flight carrying four humvees and two generators to the Big Easy Aug. 30 to Sept. 2. 

The trip included a stop at Kelly Air Force Base, Texas to pick up an aeromedical evacuation crew, then on to New Orleans where the aircraft was met by members of the Air National Guard. 

"This mission displayed the dedication and service by the men and women of team McChord to our fellow Americans in crisis," said Captain Morey. 

Once the aircraft was unloaded, the crew flew to Little Rock, Ark. to stand on alert as the hurricane roared toward the coast. 

"We sat on stand-by waiting for the hurricane to hit," Senior Airman Smith said. "We didn't unpack or go very far from the hotel; we just stayed close by until we got the call to leave." 

The crew completed another tasking over the weekend to Kelly AFB before returning to Little Rock with Red Cross supplies, only to encounter a portion of the storm on the way in. 

"It was pretty bad weather," Captain Morey said. "There was very low visibility and high winds, but our crews train for difficult conditions." 

The crew successfully and safely landed in Little Rock that night for the final leg of their mission. Hurricane Gustav made landfall on Monday, with less severity than city officials were expecting. 

"Everyone learned important lessons from a few years ago. With the mayor of New Orleans calling this, [Hurricane Gustav] the 'mother of all storms' they prepared very well," said Captain Morey. It was downgraded to a category 2 once it made landfall." 

Mission complete, the crew headed back to McChord. 

"This definitely wasn't a routine mission or series of flights," said Senior Airman Smith. "But we are well-trained and ready and we completed this mission successfully and safely." 

"Our crews stand ready at a moment's notice to go anywhere at any time," Captain Morey said. "I'm proud to have commanded an excellent crew on a successful mission."