Marines and Air Force join with Samaritan’s Purse to provide relief

Marines from the "Dragons" of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265 and Airmen from 353rd Special Operations Group from Kadena Air Base, Japan, joined personnel of the Indonesian Air Force to transport relief supplies in the past week.

The Marines and Indonesian Air Force personnel loaded over seven hundred parcels of water and aid supplies for the Samaritan's Purse DART Team into a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter in Padang. Once the helicopter was fully loaded, it departed Padang for a mountainous village in the affected West Sumatra area.

The helicopter landed in a makeshift landing zone cleared of trees by local residents. U.S. military working jointly with Indonesian military, local residents and members of the Samaritan’s Purse DART Team spread into a chain to pass the parcels, where they were placed in a makeshift storage area for distribution in surrounding villages.

The U.S. marine helicopters were able to deliver 36 tons of relief supplies as well as providing medical personnel to care for some of the victims of the earthquake in the surrounding area.

Air Force Capt. Tony Truong, a Los Angeles native and physician with Special Operation Squadron 353, explained the importance of the military services working together in the humanitarian mission.

"The earthquakes that went through Indonesia touches everyone worldwide. In conjunction with the Indonesians, we're here to help as many as we can in the areas that need it most. Our presence, in conjunction with the host nation, can bring capabilities not available any other way," he said.

Please continue to pray for those affected by this disaster and for our DART team on the ground. You can also give to our emergency relief work today.