Tsunami Survivors Mob U.S. Aid Copters

AP ^ | 01/01/05 | DENIS D. GRAY

[Pikamax]

Tsunami Survivors Mob U.S. Aid Copters

38 minutes ago World - AP Asia

By DENIS D. GRAY, Associated Press Writer

ABOARD THE USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN - Desperate, homeless villagers on the tsunami-ravaged island of Sumatra mobbed American helicopters carrying aid Saturday as the U.S. military launched its largest operation in the region since the Vietnam War, ferrying food and other emergency relief to survivors across the disaster zone.

From dawn until sunset on New Year's Day, 12 Seahawk helicopters shuttled supplies and advance teams from offshore naval vessels while reconnaissance aircraft brought back stark images of wave-wrecked coastal landscapes and their hungry, traumatized inhabitants.

"They came from all directions, crawling under the craft, knocking on the pilot's door, pushing to get into the cabin," said Petty Officer First Class Brennan Zwack. "But when they saw we had no more food inside, they backed away, saying `Thank you, thank you.'"

"The mob decided how we distributed the food. There were so many hands outstretched I don't think any package touched the ground," added Zwack, of Sioux Falls, S.D.

The helicopters took off from the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, staged in calm waters about three miles off the Indonesian province of Aceh along with four other vessels to launch the sprawling U.S. military operation.

More than a dozen other ships were en route to southern Asian waters, with the USS Bonhomme Richard, an amphibious assault vessel carrying Marines, headed for Sri Lanka, which along with Indonesia was the worst-hit area. The mission involves thousands of sailors and Marines, along with some 1,000 land-based troops.

Governments and global organizations have pledged about $2 billion in tsunami disaster relief, the United Nations (news - web sites) said Saturday. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi raised Japan's offer to $500 million from $30 million, topping President Bush (news - web sites)'s pledge Friday of $350 million.

Thailand's Vietnam War-era air base of Utapao has become the airlift hub for the region. C-130 transport planes were already conducting sorties to Jakarta and the Sumatran cities of Medan and Banda Aceh, according to a statement Saturday by the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta.

U.S. Navy (news - web sites) medical staff are also on the ground in Meulaboh, a decimated fishing village where several thousand bodies have been recovered. The Navy is considering a request from Jakarta to establish a field hospital there.

As many as 100,000 people are feared dead on Sumatra, which was closest to the epicenter of last Sunday's catastrophic quake and tsunami. Although aid has been piling up in regional airports, officials have had trouble getting it out to the areas in need and the U.S. military was expected to ease the bottleneck.

The Lincoln's operations officer, Cmdr. Matthew J. Faletti, said the New Year's Day effort off Sumatra was focused on ferrying emergency relief, including biscuits, energy drinks and instant noodles, to communities along the 120-mile stretch of seacoast south of the city of Banda Aceh.

Most of the 25,000 pounds of aid supplies delivered Saturday were picked up from Australian and other foreign shipments at Banda Aceh and then rushed by the helicopters to coastal town, where tens of thousands were killed by the giant wall of water.

U.S. military medical and damage assessment teams were also landed with helicopters flying in heavy winds, rain and low clouds. Supplies had to be dropped from craft hovering over some water-logged areas where landing proved impossible.

"There is nothing left to speak of at these coastal areas," said Lt. Cmdr. Jeff Vorce, a pilot from San Diego, California. The tsunami left a swath of destruction as deep as two miles inland, with trees mowed down like grass and the only evidence of buildings in many communities the bare foundations, pilots said.

Many residents were camped out on high ground, either afraid to return to the seacoast or having nothing to return to.

The town of Meuloboh, where some 50,000 people had once lived, was about 80 percent destroyed, Faletti estimated.

The pilots encountered a number of foreign and Indonesian aid workers but distribution of supplies was difficult since the vital coastal road, most bridges and two small airports near Meuloboh had been washed away. "It looks like the sheer force of the water buckled the road from underneath," Vorce said.

Officers said information was being gathered on how best American resources could be used including the skills of machinists, masons, carpenters, divers and general laborers among the more than 6,000 crew members on the giant carrier.

"Everyone is champing at the bit to go out and help," said Vorce. "Today wasn't about a paycheck."

[Mr. Mojo]

It's sad that one picture showing one guy wearing a t-shirt with OBL's picture would prompt people to decide not to reach out to other's of the Islamic faith.

Unfortunately we're not just talking about one guy in a t-shirt here. The vast majority of Muslims around the world both despise the U.S and side with our sworn enemies.

For several years I had a next door neighbour who practiced Islam. He and his family were some of the best neighbours I've ever had.

I'm sure they were, but we're talking about foreign Muslims, not American citizens.

[blu]

Pronunciation help please:

Is USS Bonhomme Richard pronounced with a French accent? "Reeeshard" instead of Richard? Or do they just call it "The good dude, Dick"?

[duckbutt]

"Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi raised Japan's offer to $500 million from $30 million, topping President Bush (news - web sites)'s pledge Friday of $350 million."

Yup - -quite the dig by AP. My guess is that the $350M given by the US doesn't include the cost of the ships, helicopters, and our brave men and women in the military.....

[The KG9 Kid]

"... Not 'Where is the UN?' Not even where is his own government, but "Where are the Americans?" They know who they can count on."

Indeed.

Another point that I bought up and neglected to post is that I mentioned that the Marines and sailors heading the relief effort are largely 'backwards red state hillbillys' that 'haven't got passports' and have 'no understanding of the outside world'.

Hell, between the 'War On Terror' and relief efforts in Afghanistan, Kurdistan, Uzbekistan, Iraq, Liberia, Haiti, Indonesia, Bangaladesh, Thailand, and all points North, South, East, and West -- we've got 21-year olds from Paducah KY in the service more world-travelled than any fat liberal wanker who writes checks to the World Wildlife Fund and contentedly thinks they're cosmopolitan without even having to leave their apartment in Manhattan NYC.

Marines don't show passports, but some young fellows in the service could write an updated lyric sheet to country crooners Hank Snow & Johnny Cash placename tribute song 'I've Been Everywhere'.

[Ginifer]

Your guess is correct. It also does not include the private donations from American's or the Corporate donations. AP is just such a liberal paper that they always have to find a way to cause dissension...they thrive on creating controversy.

[beaelysium]

Description:   Helicopters from Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 2 (HS-2) Golden Falcons and Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (Light) 47 (HSL-47) Saberhawks depart from USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) en route to Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia.
Indian Ocean (Jan. 1, 2005) -- Helicopters from Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 2 (HS-2) “Golden Falcons” and Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (Light) 47 (HSL-47) “Saberhawks” depart from USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) en route to Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia. The helicopters are transporting supplies, bringing in disaster relief teams and supporting humanitarian airlifts to tsunami-stricken coastal regions. Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is currently operating in the Indian Ocean off the waters of Indonesia and Thailand. U.S. Navy photo (RELEASED)   http://www.navy.mil

[river rat]

Where are the "Islamic Nations", in this relief effort?????

Why must it be predominately Buddhists, Christians and Jews to the rescue?

Surely the oil rich "Islamic Nations" can afford to help..
Surely their Muslim brothers and sisters are worthy of help...

WHY does the press and U.N. critize America as stingy and give the wealthy "rag heads" a pass?

Perhaps "Islamic Charity" is an oxymoron -- when they're so busy attempting to kill non-Muslims.


Semper Fi

[Libertina]

Since your government is giving away your tax dollars, you'll be happy to know that EVERYONE is giving. (Whether they want to or not.)

[Labyrinthos]

Can't help but notice that they weren't mobbingFrench Helicopters.

[Peach]

I do believe I mentioned that on another post on this thread. Since tax dollars are OUR money.

[Peach]

I just realized as you and I discussed a thread I was on earlier, it's on the Smokey Backroom so you will not find it doing an in forum search.

I hadn't realized that's how those threads work but I just did a search to get back into it and it wasn't showing up.

Anyway, if you wanted to see some of the nuttiness there, just let me know and I'll link the thread via freepmail so I don't contaminate this thread.

[oceanview]

Mike Chinoy from CNN was on the first chooper off the Lincoln. He had some good footage. The first people who ran towards it could be described as a "mob", but it seemed to calm down after the initial surge, as other copters landed with more supplies and a medical team.

When you see how bad things are in Indonesia, it looks like this is going to be a permanent problem; that is, these people have no homes, no structures in their towns, nothing - they need this short term relief in terms of food and medical, but I just don't see how their is any infrastructure, even repairable infrastructure, for them to get back to some kind of sustainable lives. this is going to be a long term operation. other places, like Thailand, are in much better shape.

[Peach]

Disregard my previous post; the thread got pulled altogether.

[oceanview]

they were - but those were the Euro tourists in Thailand hoping the French relief supplies included some Moet Chandon champagne.

[Peach]

It's going to be a long, hard problem and I don't know how an area ever overcomes something like this.

[oceanview]

normally, the foreign aid would be short term, and then the indigenous government would ramp up their efforts for the more permanent solutions; rebuilding, transportation, etc. but is the Indonesia and Sri Lanka governments up to it (Thailand is for sure, from what I have seen)? I'm not sure.

[patton]

well done. LOL.

[af_vet_1981]

I guess this means they are not buring American flags in Indonesia this week ...

"Everyone is champing at the bit to go out and help," said Vorce. "Today wasn't about a paycheck."

The best military in the world ...

[Magnum44]

And it was just getting fun(ny) too. Can you send me another picture of Sela? :^)

[Peach]

LOL! I missed the last few posts; it must have gotten good. But just as well it got pulled.