Burning to deliver humanitarian cargo

Published Aug. 2, 2007
By Capt. Wayne Capps
315th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

MANAUGA, NICARAGUA -- Providing much needed humanitarian supplies to developing nations in Central America proves to be just another day at the office for an Air Force Reserve C-17 Globemaster III crew.

Sunday, a C-17 crew from the 315th Airlift Wing at Charleston AFB, S.C., delivered a donated fire truck and ambulance to Managua, Nicaragua in order to help provide fire and emergency services for a population of 1.5 million people.

The cargo was transported as part of the Denton Amendment program. According to the Denton web site, the Denton program allows donors to use space available on military cargo planes to transport goods to countries in need. The program is jointly managed by the Department of State and Department of Defense.

The emergency vehicles were donated by the Wisconsin/Nicaragua Partners of the Americas, Inc. based out of Stevens Point, Wis. "We are indebted to the Denton program because we would never be able to get the vehicles there," said Amy Wiza, program director for the Wisconsin/Nicaragua Partners of the Americas.

According to Mike McAvoy, traffic manager for the Denton program, Charleston Air Force Base flies Denton cargo on a monthly basis.

"It gives you a special feeling in your heart to know how this cargo helps people in another country, it makes the whole crew feel good to get to do their part," said Maj. Jason Crandall of the 701st Airlift Squadron and one of the pilots on the crew.

That sentiment also rings true for Capt. Robert McGrath, the aircraft commander on the mission, also from the 701st Airlift Squadron, "for me, it is nice to take a break from the war effort to go down and help a country that is in need."