As part of a two-week medical exercise under the auspices of US Southern Command, members of the California Air National Guard’s 163rd Medical Group have provided care to some 1,500 Guatemalans near Santa Rosa over a three-day period. “It was surprising to me that we were able to help as many people as we did with a relatively small team,” said Col. Vincent Dang, 163rd MG commander. For Col. David Walton, California ANG State air surgeon, “Their lack of facilities, as well as the generally poor quality of health among the population was astounding.” The group planned to move on to two more impoverished locales. (Santa Rosa report by Capt. Al Bosco)
As Hurricane Melissa hammers the Caribbean, the U.S. Air Force’s “Hurricane Hunters” are busy flying into the massive Category 4 storm to collect atmospheric data—with one experiencing greater than expected turbulence Oct. 28.
