JBER Public Affairs
12/17/2014 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- On Nov. 30, the South Korean fishing vessel Oryong 501 was swamped and sank when a wave flooded it near the boundary of U.S. and Russian waters.
The U.S. Coast Guard responded at dawn the next morning with aircraft from Kodiak, and seven survivors were rescued by Coast Guardsmen and Russian fishermen. Coast Guard Cutter Alex Healy also responded, and has been coordinating efforts.
South Korea is now taking over the operations - and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson is the hub.
Due to the remote location of the disaster, about 850 miles away from Kodiak, it's more efficient to operate from an Alaska installation. Fortunately, Air Force personnel train regularly to support U.S. allies.
"Normally we host Red Flag-Alaska," said Air Force Lt. Col. Dylan Baumgartner, commander of Detachment 1, 354th Operations Group. "We're very good at receiving forces and helping them integrate. We can get them set up with what they need."
With little more than a day to prepare, Baumgartner volunteered to coordinate. His team needed to ensure the 36 personnel of the Republic of Korea Navy - and their two P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft - would have as much support as possible for the 30-day timeframe they requested for recovering personnel from the sunken ship.
Air Force Staff Sgt. Enoch Jonas is "my jack-of-all-trades," Baumgartner said. With a background as a crew chief, Jonas "knows who to call to get what they need."
Jonas and the rest of the detachment contacted lodging to arrange quarters and the Joint Military Mall for shopping privileges, and ensured the dining facility knew to plan for another 36 personnel. The detachment also coordinated with maintenance troops to ensure that any parts, or equipment for fueling or deicing, would be ready.
While none of the ROK troops on the delegation have been to Red-Flag Alaska, the quarterly exercise has paid off - not least because aircraft often need maintenance while participating, and funding paperwork already existed.
"The ROK already had set up accounts for Red Flag-Alaska," Baumgartner said. "There have been questions for the cost of the operation, but nothing has held that up. They're not waiting on fuel."
The 3rd Maintenance Squadron sheet-metals technicians finessed some broken bolts on one of the Korean aircraft to conduct repairs.
"If one of those broken bolts had fallen into the engine - you'd have to tear it all apart, or get a new engine, and they don't have another one here. It would take days."
As the Korean troops hope to retrieve all personnel from the wreck, and sea is beginning to ice over near the site, time is of the essence. The remains of 27 personnel have been recovered, but there are 26 others still unaccounted for, Baumgartner said.
The Healy will be leaving the area, but a South Korean military vessel is already en route to take over shipboard operations.
The tragedy provides a strong example of how the U.S. military presence in Alaska and the Pacific supports the entire region, and JBER is a key player.
"We've had a lot of support from around the base," Baumgartner said. "Airfield management has gone above and beyond."
Baumgartner said his unit plans to host a Christmas event if the Korean delegation is on JBER through the holidays.
"They'll be away from their families; we're going to do something to bring them a little cheer. It's what we do," he said.
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