MARINE CORPS AIR STATION BEAFORT, S.C. -- Personnel from Marine Corps Air
Station Beaufort helped members
of the local community clear fallen
trees and brush from their property,
Oct. 20-21 in the wake of Hurricane
Matthew. The volunteers from Marine
Aviation Logistics Squadron 31
formed a recovery platoon to support
ongoing recovery efforts.
Marines volunteered their time after
normal working hours to help Marines
and their families clear debris
from their homes. One of the houses
they assisted belonged to Gunnery
Sgt. Eric Struxness, an avionics technician
with Marine Aircraft Group
31.
“This has been incredible,” said
Struxness. “There are several large
trees down across my property that
my son and I have worn ourselves out
trying to clear. Many hands make
light work. What these Marines can
do in two hours would take my son
and me days to clear.”
Hurricane Matthew, a Category 2
hurricane, moved up the coast, passing
by Beaufort Oct. 7-8, leaving a
trail of downed trees and power lines.
Recovery efforts continue, as the
air station and community work to
reestablish infrastructure and clear
away debris. At previous houses, the
Marines used their own equipment,
but Struxness provided chainsaws
and a tractor for the two day job of
clearing limbs and brush.
“I have been using the chainsaw to
cut up a big water oak that took out
three smaller trees,” said Struxness.
“First, we cleared out all these limbs
and brush to clear a way for the tractor.
Then we can start to move the
larger portions of the tree trunks.”
The leadership of Marine Aviation
Logistics Squadron 31 saw the need
and called on their Marines to volunteer
to help families in need. The volunteers
have been working since Oct.
17 at various houses of base personnel
who have requested the recovery
platoon’s services.
“These families need help,” said
2nd Lt. Molly Dundon, an aviation
maintenance officer with MALS-
31. “We still have people calling
in. MALS-31 Marines are working
hard; when the work day ends, they
are still going. They understand one
team, one fight. It is about Marines
taking care of each other and their
community.”
The recovery platoon also participated
in cleanup efforts on base. The
Marines sacrificed their own time
and efforts to lend a helping hand
and build unit cohesion.
“It feels good to be out here helping
out families from the air station,”
said Lance Cpl. Daniel Hadfeg, an ordinance
technician with MALS-31. “I
think this is part of being a Marine.
I don’t know very many of these Marines
out here or even the families
we are helping, but this is something
that we can all come together to help
with. It comes down to meeting a
common human need.”
The recovery platoon provided assistance
to Marine families via their
unit’s family readiness officer. Now
that it has been nearly three weeks
since Hurricane Matthew swept
the coast line, the volunteers of the
recovery platoon are preparing to
stand down and return to their normal
work flow.
“The Marine Corps is a big family,”
said Struxness. “It’s humbling to
have all of these Marines out here
helping me and my family. When I
first heard they were willing to help
I was hesitant to request their help.
I wanted to do it all myself, but my
son said ‘Why not?’ I’m glad I asked
for help and very grateful for everything
they are doing.”