Westover airlifts 26 tons of aid to nicaragua

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Kelly Goonan
  • 439th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MANAGUA, NICARAGUA --  A training mission this month doubled as a humanitarian relief effort for reserve airmen from the 439th Airlift Wing at Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass. Thirteen Airmen delivered 26 tons of cargo to Augusto Cesar Sandino International Airport in Nicaragua, June 10. This Denton Amendment mission delivered one Ford Horton Ambulance, a Ford 8000 Pierce Pumper and a Ford C-8000 Pirsch Pumper on behalf of the Wisconsin/Nicaragua Partners (W/NP) of the Americas, Inc. The W/NP is a humanitarian services organization implementing programs in both Wisconsin and Nicaragua.

With 15 established fire stations throughout Nicaragua, the W/NP recognized, nearly 50 years ago, the importance of assisting a country which doesn't manufacture fire trucks or ambulances. On average, three emergency vehicles are shipped each year, as well as other necessary firefighter equipment such as boots, helmets and air packs. These newly delivered vehicles will be placed under the control of Nicaraguan governmental agencies, such as The Bomberos, and will service over 250,000 men, women and children. The Bomberos maintains an emergency center for the entire country and also provides fire service for the capital city of Managua. Twenty-nine fire trucks and thirteen ambulances, with a collective value of over $1 million have already been delivered using the Denton Amendment Program.

The 1985 Denton Amendment makes possible the delivery of donated humanitarian relief on military aircraft with available space, according to the Defense Department. This program saves humanitarian aid agencies untold dollars in transportation costs, which could be debilitating for small, nonprofit groups.

Airmen regularly take part in humanitarian missions like this. The Air Force has hauled millions of pounds of relief around the world free of charge to the donors, according to the Defense Department, which administers the Denton program with the State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development.

For at least one crew member, he's lost count of the humanitarian gestures.

"I can't remember how many of these I've done," said Master Sgt. Michael Pasternak, 337th Airlift Squadron loadmaster. "We fly them so regularly that it's hard to keep track."