HQ$History - United States Special Operations Command

No other international donor has made as immediate
an impact on the victims of the region as
these flights allowed us to provide.”
Operation FUNDAMENTAL
RESPONSE
Two weeks of unrelenting rain led to flash
flooding in northern Venezuela, roads and
bridges were damaged or destroyed, and flooding
and landslides isolated many communities. On
16 December 1999, the government of Venezuela
declared a state of emergency. By 27 December,
officials reported a possible death toll of up to
30,000 with 400,000 people homeless. Soldiers
from the 7th SFG (A) and the 160th SOAR (A)
were among the U.S. troops to provide assistance
to flood and mudslide survivors in
Venezuela.
Special Forces soldiers assisted in the evacuation
efforts. The company’s mission was to provide
search and recovery, and humanitarian
assistance in support of the relief effort named
Operation FUNDAMENTAL RESPONSE. The
team arrived in the area on 17 December 1999
and aided in the rescue and evacuation of about
3,000 people.
Joint Task Force FUNDAMENTAL
RESPONSE (JTF-FR) was established on 27
December 1999 in response to a request from the
American Embassy in Caracas for search and
rescue support and humanitarian assistance.
The operation was conducted in two phases,
emergency and rehabilitation. During the emergency
phase, JTF-FR evacuated 5,558
Venezuelans; delivered and distributed over 381
tons of food, medical supplies, water
and other supplies; and participated
in disaster relief, engineering, medical
(to include hazardous materials),
and water assessments. During the
rehabilitation phase, the JTF mission
was to produce and distribute
potable water. Reverse osmosis
water purification units produced
2,891,686 gallons of potable water
and distributed 2,542,568 gallons of
water. Rotary wing aircraft (MH-60
and MH47) flew 344 sorties.
Operation FIERY RELIEF
Special Operations Command, Pacific forces
led U.S. humanitarian assistance operations in
the southern Philippines following the eruption
of the Mount Mayon Volcano. From 19 Feb - 4
Mar 2000, SOCPAC forces transitioned from
Exercise BALIKATAN 00 to relief operations to
assist the Republic of the Philippines in easing
the suffering of over 70,000 refugees. A SOC-
PAC C2 cell, an Operational Detachment Bravo
(ODB) and two ODAs from 1/1st SFG (A), and
two C-130H Combat Talon IIs from 353rd SOG
aircraft were employed to transport supplies and
set up tentage for the refugees in Legazpi City.
On 5 March, 23 tents were erected, using the
“train the trainer” concept—the Special Forces
soldiers taught Filipino personnel to build tents
without further assistance. The force reacted
within 12 hours of notification and flawlessly
executed the mission, delivering 36,000 pounds
of tents and dust masks to families staying at
evacuation centers. The JTF Commander summarized
the operation as follows:
“This was an outstanding example of
the responsiveness and flexibility of
CINCPAC’s Special Operations Forces.
Our operational time line was so constrained
that it afforded little room for any
delays or failures. It was a series of minor
miracles and hard work on the part of the
entire JTF and the U.S. embassy that contributed
to the success of the mission.
Those miracles were the result of personal
relationships developed by JTF personnel
Mount Mayon volcano erupting.
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