Air Force News Service.
MINSK, Byelorussia -- As the United States ponders what to do in Bosnia, an Air Force C-5 loaded with humanitarian assistance supplies landed at another country that's suffering in this part of the world. It was the first such visit to Byelorussia since the republic broke away from the Soviet Union five years ago.
In fact, the C-5's arrival on July 23 occurred during the week marking Byelorussia's "4th of July" -- when these people said no more to Soviet rule. Prior to becoming an independent republic, Byelorussia had been under U.S.S.R. rule since 1922.
The C-5's 28 pallets of medical supplies, blankets, clothes, furniture and a military ambulance were well received by a large gathering of U.S. and Byelorussian diplomatic officials, and more than 100 local army personnel dressed in the bright green uniform of their new republic.
After the landing at Minsk's airport, U.S. Ambassador Kenneth Yalowitz said the much-needed humanitarian supplies will go a long way in showing the Byelorussian people that America's deeds are as strong as their words.
Calling the airlift -- by an all Reserve aircrew from the 433rd Airlift Wing, Kelly AFB, Texas -- a "decisive response" to the woes of the region, Yalowitz said Byelorussian, and the other 14 republics of the former Soviet Union, will continue to need help from the West.
It is not surprising, said Khodorchenko Valdiuciz, that his people are concerned about America's response in Bosnia where the threat of mass hunger continues.
Valdiuciz, field director for the Byelorussian humanitarian assistance program, said the same thousand-year-old hatreds among people in the former Yugoslavia can also be found in his country and other ex-Soviet republics.
While he boasts about Byelorussia's rich natural diversity, he also warns that his country faces economic catastrophe. He said inflation is so high that people can't even afford fuel for their cars, not to mention fuel to heat their homes with cold weather just around the corner.
As their economy sputters, Byelorussians will be turning more and more to the West, and if not the West, then back to Mother Russia, if their situation doesn't work out, said Brian Propp, director of U.S. humanitarian assistance programs in the region.
While he wouldn't speculate on the future of these ex-Soviet states, Propp did say America has a vested interest in Byelorussia and the Air Force would surely be part of any future aid missions.
The 433rd AW and other Reserve and active-duty units under Air Mobility Command frequently transport humanitarian assistance under legislation created by war veteran and POW Sen. Jerimiah Denton. Since 1985, the Denton Amendment has allowed the Air Force to take without charge, and on a space-available basis, supplies donated by non-government sources intended for humanitarian assistance.
The goods for the recent Byelorussia mission were part of this Denton humanitarian cargo. Col. Thomas Wolff, 433rd AW logistics group commander, said this kind of mission is what his wing does routinely. Wolff also pointed out that AMC active and reserve airlift has taken center stage for a host of United Nations-directed humanitarian peacekeeping operations throughout the world.
"All signs indicate that this kind of activity is going to increase in the future," Wolff said.
For another member of the 433rd AW, these humanitarian are just "fun."
"It feels good to help these people," said TSgt. Joseph Burgos, who operated the forklift during the off-load of supplies in Byelorussia.
At one point Burgos seemed to hit it off with his Byelorussia counterparts, giving them a ride on the forklift amid cheers from the other workers helping out.
"They got a big kick out of the forklift ... like they never saw one this good. They (Byelorussian military) liked the steering and how easy it was to handle," Burgos said.
Eventually, the humanitarian cargo was off-loaded and it was time to say goodbye. But Burgos didn't leave his forklift. He said, "Perhaps next time."