Alaska Air National Guard Deliver Medical Supplies to Cambodia First U.S. military aircraft to land at Kampong Chhnang Province airfield since 1975

By Capt Guy Hayes
Alaska National Guard Office of Public Affairs

The airfield at Chhnang Province, Cambodia, is busy with activity as Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, Alaska National Guard and U.S. Air Force members get operations underway for Pacific Angel 2008 here May 24. Operation Pacific Angel is a joint/combined humanitarian assistance operation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Tom Czerwinski)
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CAMP DENALI, Alaska - Seventeen Guardsmen from the Alaska Air National Guard at Kulis Air National Guard Base landed in Cambodia May 24 in support of Operation Pacific Angel.

The Guardsmen deployed to support a joint humanitarian assistance operation in the pacific region and were the first members in a U.S. military aircraft to land at Kampong Chhnang Province airfield, Cambodia, since the airfield was built in 1975.

“The Alaska National Guard continues to set the standard of excellence,” said Maj. Gen. Craig E. Campbell, adjutant general of the Alaska National Guard. “As Alaskans, our Guardsmen know first hand the importance of providing relief and assistance to those in need. It’s part of our culture and this mission further demonstrates our forces’ flexibility in accomplishing multiple missions at home and around the world.”

The Guardmembers delivered a 3000-pound pallet of medical supplies to a multi-national team of medical professionals who processed the supplies for movement to clinics in Kampong Chhnang and Kampong Cham Provinces.

Members of the Alaska Air National Guard in support of Operation Pacific Angel are scheduled to return to Alaska June 2.