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Helping those in need

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jared Duhon
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
On May 25, three Airmen from the 9th Airlift Squadron embarked on a 36-hour trip from Dover Air Force Base, Del., to Moore, Okla., using their own vehicles and personal leave.

Moore was recently hit with by an Enhanced Fujita 5 rated tornado that left thousands of homes destroyed, and many people in need of help and basic necessities.

Staff Sgt. Michael Swank, 9th AS flight engineer, Staff Sgt. Jennifer Umbach, 9th AS flight engineer, and Senior Airman Lucadello, 9th AS loadmaster, all took the time to help those in their time of need.


"When we saw it happen and the lives it affected, we wanted to help the people who needed it," Lucadello said. "We are in good shape and we wanted to go down."

Umbach was stationed at Tinker Air Force Base before being stationed at Dover AFB.

"The community there, they always do a lot for the military," said Umbach. "It felt good to give back."

The three pitched in by collecting basic necessities, such as food and water, which was donated by 9th AS personnel.

"We set up a donation point in our squadron," said Swank. "After about 24 to 36 hours we had about 2000 pounds of donations that we later packed into a truck and we left Friday morning at 3 a.m."

Neither Swank nor Lucadello have visited to or have family in Oklahoma. Yet, they are already planning to take another trip down.

"Because of the people we met down there and helped, we want to take another trip and help them out," said Lucadello. "Many people come down right after a disaster hits, but very few will come back and help the victims who are camping out until a new house is built."