Military historians record troops' JTF-Katrina effort Published May 16, 2007 By Capt. Julie Shively Air Force Historical Research Agency DENVER -- While much has been publicized about Hurricane Katrina's victims, there has been little media attention on military efforts to help New Orleans citizens cope in the aftermath of the killer hurricane's devastation. Katrina's wrath resulted in the single largest joint military humanitarian relief effort in U.S. history. Over the past year, Reserve historians have continued extended deployments to publish a manuscript documenting Joint Task Force Katrina's historic military relief efforts. Through research, written narratives, and the transcription of more than 400 digitally recorded interviews, the courageous stories of military rescues and front-line medical care are finally coming to light. Within 12 hours of landfall of the third largest hurricane ever to hit our nation, rescue assets from all branches of the U.S. military were operating on the ground and in helicopters over New Orleans and Mississippi. When the calls came, servicemembers put their lives on hold. -- Col. Leonard Coleman, 4th Mission Support Group commander at Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C., had just returned from golfing. Within 12 hours, he was standing up the 4th Air Expeditionary Group at New Orleans International Airport. -- Senior Ariman Nidia Barragan, of the 573rd Global Support Squadron at Travis AFB, Calif., and her daughter were driving to Santa Cruz to enjoy the weekend; four hours later, Airman Barragan was headed to New Orleans. -- Master Sgt. Matthew Wells, a 48th Rescue Squadron pararescueman from Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., was with his wife in the obstetrician's office when his call came. Search and rescue squadrons as well as military medical response teams led the military's relief effort. As many as 70 times a day, helicopter hoist operators lowered Airmen into water or onto rooftops and sludge-filled streets. Sometimes they swung them onto balconies to make life-saving rescues. With almost every hoist, the Airmen returned cradling at least one person. Days were long, muscles ached, but saving just one life was worth the fatigue, said Tech. Sgt. Ronny Werle, a 55th Rescue Squadron hoist operator from Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. "We were told we would have a four-hour familiarization flight on our first day," Sergeant Werle said. "Our familiarization flight lasted 30 seconds. Everyone was on their roofs, so we immediately began to rescue them. We just picked a group of people to save, and there were so many it would take two or three lifts to get them. At the end of the day, we were exhausted but excited because we were helping our own." As dramatic rescues continued around the clock, the Airmen said a sense of urgency arose to process sick and injured survivors. As they tended to Katrina victims, the medics at the New Orleans International Airport were described as exhibiting the same quiet heroism of battlefield medics. Lt. Col. Lawrence Riddles, 375th Medical Group commander from Scott AFB, Ill., arrived with his team to evacuate the injured from the airport. He said debris littered the ramp and hallways. Injured and dead victims lined terminals lacking light, air conditioning, water or security. Colonel Riddles' team, along with National Defense Medical System Teams, set up a terminal for triage. Day after day, the team worked as the helicopters continually landed with injured people. Air Force medics evacuated more than 2,800 injured people from the airport in 48 hours and another 2,700 within the week. "Creating a critical care treatment facility out of a hurricane-damaged airport," Riddles said, "required innovation and flexibility." Katrina patients differed from normally healthy, but injured military troops. The typical patients at the airport were chronically ill, elderly and weak, he said. Many needed wheelchairs and similar equipment absent from the standard military deployment packages. Some situations departed from typical military medical training because of other rescues. In one such rescue, a military member had to rescue a dog, that had jumped 20 feet to a transformer, and the civilian that had tried to save the dog, but found himself trapped. Soon, other victims learned that if their pets were stranded, the military would rescue them too. "This was an American city that took one on the chin. We were Americans helping Americans," said Col. Richard Walberg, 818th Contingency Response Group commander from McGuire AFB, N.J. "We integrated with every agency that came down with us, and anybody that was at that airport had one vision and that was to help the citizens of New Orleans. I know I can sleep at night because I executed my mission." The JTF-Katrina historians said they look forward to revealing the contributions of all branches of the military. Once complete, the published manuscript will be forwarded to the repository at the Air Force Historical Research Agency at Maxwell AFB, Ala.