National Guard Aviators Fly Supplies to Tangier Island

By Cotton Puryear

Virginia National Guard

RICHMOND, Va., Feb. 20, 2015 – Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe authorized an Army National Guard helicopter mission that delivered food, mail and medical supplies to residents of ice-bound Tangier Island yesterday.

The mission was carried out in conjunction with the governor’s Feb. 16 emergency declaration issued in the wake of recent frigid weather impacting large swaths of the nation’s eastern seaboard.

The 1.2-square-mile island, located in the Chesapeake Bay, has been unable to receive routine seaport deliveries due to icy conditions.

“Accomack County contacted us to see if there was any way critical supplies could be delivered to Tangier Island, since icy conditions were preventing boats from making their usual deliveries,” said State Coordinator Jeff Stern. “We coordinated with Maryland public safety officials and the Coast Guard, and tasked National Guard aviators to carry out the mission at the direction of the governor. This was executed within hours after we received the request thanks to this week’s emergency declaration.”

UH-60 Black Hawk Crew

The National Guard aviators performed the mission flying a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. They’re assigned to the Sandston, Virginia-based 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment.

“I am really proud of how quickly and effectively our air crews responded to this request,” said Brig. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the adjutant general of Virginia. “They displayed the Guard motto of ‘Always Ready, Always There.’ This is just another example of the great partnership we have with [the Virginia Department of Emergency Management] and how that partnership helps keep the citizens of the commonwealth safe.”

The helicopter’s crew flew first to the Accomack County airport to pick up emergency management personnel to assist in moving the needed cargo, then flew to Crisfield, Maryland, to pick up the supplies before heading to Tangier Island, where the aircraft and cargo were met by residents of the island.

“Our entire job and our role are really focused on the community and on helping them out,” explained Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Joshua Jacobsen, who helped pilot the mission and who moved to Virginia from Minnesota two years ago. “It felt good for me personally to give back to the state that I feel has really embraced and welcomed me as a Virginian.”

Frigid Regional Weather

Tangier Island has been iced-in since late last week when freezing temperatures swept the state, making regular deliveries of mail and supplies impossible.

“We all forget sometimes how great it is to have our military, and they keep us free, but in these situations it’s not just to protect our outer boundaries, but to help the citizens as well,” said Charles Pruitt, director of public safety for Accomack County. “It’s great to have the National Guard available to do this for us.”

Earlier this week, more than 125 Virginia National Guard personnel staged for possible winter storm response operations at locations across the commonwealth after Gov. McAuliffe declared a state of emergency. The soldiers, airmen and members of the Virginia Defense Force were ready to support the Virginia State Police, the Virginia Department of Transportation and other state and local emergency response organizations.