HQ$History - United States Special Operations Command

flooded and damaged areas, significantly
improving information products.
By the end of the mission, the United States
had delivered more than 1.5 million pounds of
cargo and had flown more than 1,100 passengers
as part of the international relief efforts.
Tsunami Relief
SOF participation in Operation UNIFIED
ASSISTANCE, the U.S. military Asian tsunami
relief effort, included a group from Special Boat
Teams (SBTs) 20 and 22 that led teams of Thais
and conventional U.S. sailors in riverine special
warfare boats searching for and retrieving the
dead from rivers, swamps, and coastal areas in
Thailand.
An assessment team from the 4th POG
helped to broadcast information for local
officials and relief organizations. CA teams
from the 96th CA Battalion assisted in planning
and coordinating relief efforts. One of
these teams discovered refugee camps in
remote areas with unsanitary living conditions
and made sure that these conditions
were improved. Thus, the refugees could
safely remain in the camps. Members of
SOG made a significant difference in improving
the situation in Banda Aceh, as relief supplies
and workers were pouring into the area creating
a chaotic situation.
Hurricane Katrina Relief Effort
After Hurricane Katrina devastated the
coastal areas of Louisiana and Mississippi in
August 2005, AFSOC forces, led by the 347th
Rescue Wing, assisted in emergency rescue operations.
From 30 August to 17 September, a total
of 20 HH-60 helicopters flew a 1,677 hours, saving
4,283 trapped individuals and delivering
52,598 pounds of cargo. This was the largest
rescue operation ever conducted by the United
States Air Force.
1/1st SFG (A) assisted with relief efforts in
Sri Lanka.
The 353rd SOG, flying five C-130s, was
instrumental in the delivery of humanitarian
aid and disaster relief to the tsunami
safety from the roof of the child’s flooded home in
38th Rescue Squadron airman and a young boy are lifted to
New Orleans.
ravaged countries of Thailand and
Indonesia. All told, they delivered 796,500 Personnel from 1/19th and 3/20th SFG (A)
pounds of supplies, and 591 relief workers. They deployed to Louisiana to support Hurricane
conducted 32 casualty evacuations Katrina Relief efforts. In Mississippi, 126 personnel
from 4th POG supported relief efforts.
(CASEVACs), and opened four airfields. The
leadership and assistance provided by 353rd
Ramp at Banda Aceh in early January 2005 during Operation
UNIFIED ASSISTANCE. A 353rd SOG MC-130 is in the background.
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