Moody Airmen depart for Hurricane Ike response

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  • By 23rd Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  A Moody Air Force Base C-130 departed this afternoon loaded with support personnel and equipment headed for Randolph AFB at San Antonio, Texas, to provide support for Hurricane Ike search and rescue operations.

"Our entire deployment center team has done a phenomenal job through the night to make this happen," said Lt. Col. John D. Clayton, 23rd Logistics Readiness Squadron commander.  "Additionally, the cooperation with the 71st Rescue Squadron, the 41st Rescue Squadron, the 38th Rescue Squadron, the 347th Operations Support Squadron and the 723rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron has been awesome."
 
The 30 Moody Airmen, who should arrive at Randolph AFB approximately 5:30 p.m. Central Standard Time today, will be "working the night shift" said Col. Kenneth E. Todorov, 23rd Wing commander.

"Our Airmen are the finest search and rescue professionals in the world," said Col. Todorov.  "We're proud of it.  We're going to do a great mission."

Currently, HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters from the 23rd Wing are flying air patrols over storm-affected areas surveying the damage and more importantly, searching flooded areas for people in need of assistance.

"We'll be in Texas as long as we need to be" said Col. Todorov.  "As long as there are lives to be saved, our Airmen will be out there."