Airmen assist airmen in Okla. tornado relief

Air Force volunteers salvage items from the home of Tech. Sgt. Rhonda Stockstill, a surgery technician with the 72nd Medical Group, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., whose home was destroyed in the May 20 EF-5 tornado that ripped through Moore, Okla. Staff Sgt. Jennifer Umbach (right), a flight engineer, and Senior Airman Stephan Lucadello (center), a load master, both with the 9th Airlift Squadron, traveled more than 36 hours from Dover AFB, Del., to help victims of the tornado. Capt. Ben Weaver (left), a bioenvironmental engineer with the 72nd Medical Group also volunteered in the cleanup effort on May 27, 2013. Umbach is from Jackson, Wis., Lucadello is from Union City, Calif., and Weaver is from Burkburnett, Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Bradley C. Church)

Dover Airmen answer call in Oklahoma

Published June 11, 2013
By Senior Airman Jared Duhon
436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- 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 EF-5 rated tornado leaving 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 personal.

"We set up a donation point in our squadron," said Swank. "After about 24 to 36 hours we had about 2,000 pounds of donations 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."