U.S. military aids in Venezuela flood relief

[a_carleone]

Gracias a nuestras Fuerzas Militares Norteamericanas por la ayuda a nuestros hermanos venezolanos. Que Dios bendiga a USA!

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U.S. military aids in Venezuela flood relief
by Sgt. 1st Class Pamela Smith


FORT BRAGG, N.C. (Army News Service, Dec. 23, 1999) - Soldiers assigned to 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C., and soldiers from 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), Fort Campbell, Ky., are among nearly 100 U.S. troops delivering supplies and providing rescue assistance to flood and mudslide survivors in Venezuela.

Six soldiers and two airmen from Company C, 3rd Battalion, 7th SFG (Airborne), Puerto Rico, have been assisting in evacuation efforts. The company's mission is to provide search and recovery and humanitarian assistance in support of the relief effort named Operation Fundamental Support, according to Maj. Scott T. Waterman, company commander, Company C, 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, Puerto Rico.

"Day to day we train for combat," said Waterman, "but, being able to respond to a crisis and deploy into an area quickly to provide assistance is what makes our unit special."

The team arrived in the area Dec. 17 and has aided in the rescue and evacuation of approximately 3,000 people. The team will remain in Venezuela until their mission is complete, said Waterman.

According to Waterman, the team members have experience dealing with humanitarian efforts, noting that some assisted after Hurricane Mitch swept across Central America in November 1998, and others helped after the earthquake in Boliva in 1998.

Chief Warrant Officer Jose Majano, detachment executive officer, and Staff Sgt. James R. Cress, communications sergeant, were key players in a "fast rope" extraction featured on NBC Dec. 21. The pair rescued a 62-year-old Venezuelan man from his flooded home.

Majano said they were unable to land the helicopter and had to hover above the house. After dropping the rope and sliding onto the roof, Majano and Cress had to prepare the man for extraction.

"He was scared and hungry and he didn't want to leave," said Majano. "I spoke with him, tried to comfort him, and told him that he was going to get to see his country from a different view."

Majano said his main concern was for the man's safety and getting him in contact with worried relatives. After successfully rescuing the man and seeing him to safety, the team continued with their search and recovery mission.

"I'm just glad to be here helping these people," Majano said of the mission.

Majano also gives credit to the pilots from the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne). "The success of our mission is due in large part to their tremendous piloting skills," Majano said.

Company D, 3rd Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), Fort Campbell, has provided 18 soldiers and two Black Hawk helicopters to assist in evacuation and supply delivery efforts.

The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) is a major subordinate unit of Army Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg.

Drenching rains had caused the Marapa River to swell and cover vast sections of the neighborhood, while mud and rockslides from surrounding hills buried other sections. Thousands were left homeless in the town of Marapa, which is on the Caribbean coast, about 35 miles northwest of Caracas. The disaster wiped out whole neighborhoods and more than 68,000 people were evacuated to shelters.

The United States and other nations continue to send aid to the stricken areas. The Defense Department said it has sent water purification equipment, diapers, water, medicine, blankets and plastic tarp for relief assistance efforts.

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Puerto Rico, USA

[IDeJesus]

las gracias hay que darselas a Dios y a la madre naturaleza, por haberle concedido a Venezuela grandes yacimientos petrolificos que mantienen a los Estados Unidos y a las corporaciones Petroleras Estadounidenses que alli se lucran interesados en Venezuela. Si en Venezuela dejase de fluir el Petroleo te aseguro que las ayudas humanitarias brillarian por su ausencia. Los Venezolanos quedarian en manos de la Cruz Roja pero no del Navy.

Piensalo bien para que te des cuenta. En estos ultimos 5 anos abundaron los desastres naturales en otros paises. Y la ayuda militar EstadoUnidense no los alcanzo nunca. Preguntaselo a los residentes de la pequenita isla volcanica de Monserrate.

[a_carleone]

IDeJesus:

Si son tan malos los Norteamericanos porque no renuncias a la ciudadanía?

Porque resides en un Estado y no vives en Puerto Rico?
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Buscate mas información porque las que estas leyendo creo que provienen de los periódicos de Cuba. Estados Unidos ha ayudado a todos los países en desgracia y continua dandole a ayuda a los que la necesiten. A pesar de que el Presidente Chavez se ha negado a la ayuda Norteamericana, ellos le dan la mano al pueblo venezolano. Además, preguntate la oportación tan grande que hace EEUU con los pronósticos del tiempo, con sus satélites y aviones para seguir la trayectoria de los huracanes. Estas enterada de las personas que no han perdido sus vidas en el Caribe y Centroamerica gracias a los pronósticos de los Norteamericanos? Nadie como Estados Unidos cuenta con esa tecnología en América. Tal parece que las fuentes suyas estan tan ciegas o la redacción del periódico que lees proviene de Cuba como te dije antes.

Creo que no vale la pena que le explique las cosas positivas de Nuestra Nación Americana, porque usted siempre le buscara 5 patas al gato, para inventarse algo negativo.

[This message has been edited by a.carleone (edited 04 February 2000).]

[ivette]

DE QUE EU ENVIO AYUDA, CIERTO ES PERO NO FUERON LOS UNICOS. ADEMAS SI USTED "LEYO" BIEN LOS PERIODICOS, EL PRESIDENTE DE VENEZUELA LE NEGO LA ENTRADA A LOS MILITARES ESTADOUNIDENSES EN VARIOS SECTORES AFECTADOS, POR TEMOR A ENFRENTAMIENTOS ENTRE CIUDADANOS Y MILITARES. SI LEYO "BIEN" TUVO QUE HABER LEIDO ESO. YO CREO QUE A USTED LE DA "CEGUERA" POR PARRAFOS. BUSQUE LAS RAZONES DE ESA NEGACION POR PARTE DE VENEZUELA, PORQUE NO FUE POR COMIDA QUE IBAN A ENFRENTARSE ???????

[a_carleone]

Creo que son dos Ivette y ambas estan en el mismo barco. Mi artículo anterior les contesta muy claramente lo que pienso. Ustedes son ejemplo de los OT (opuestos a todo).

[ivette]

AQUI EL UNICO OPUESTO ES USTED YA QUE SE OPONE A SU PROPIA REALIDAD. LO QUE LE DIJE ES UNA REALIDAD Q USTED POR SU CEGUERA NO QUISO O NO QUIERE VER.ME ENCANTA "CONVERSAR" CON SU "INTELECTO" SI SUPIERA COMO LO DISFRUTO, MIENTRAS YO ME RIO A USTED SE LE TUERCE EL HIGADO USTED ME PUEDE DECIR TODOS LOS "INSULTOS" Q QUIERA PORQUE AQUI EL UNICO Q SE PICA ES USTED JAJAJA 'DITO CARAY! A MI NI ME VA NI ME VIENE LO Q USTED PUDA DECIR YA Q LO Q DIGO LO MANTENGO Y LO SOSTENGO. VIVA PUERTO RICO LIBRE! CON O SIN USTED. QUE TENGA UN HERMOSO DIA MI AMIGO A. CORLEONE SE LE QUIERE DE GRATIS! HACIENDOLE HONOR AL MES DE LA AMISTAD JAJAJAJAJAJA

[ivette]

Se me olvidaba amigo, si para usted yo soy de los OT, usted pertenece a los P.D.N.S.L.Q.H. (Perdonalos Dios No Saben Lo Que Hacen)jajajajajajajajajajajajajajajajajajajajajajajajajajajajajajajajajajajajajajajaja ;-)