CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
An Air Force Reserve crew from the 315th Airlift Wing at Charleston AFB was among some of the most recent volunteers to help with the mine rescue operation currently taking place in Utah.
Six miners continue to be trapped hundreds of feet below the surface after the collapse Aug. 6; their condition is still unknown.
"This is the reason we fly ... to keep people out of harm's way," said Master Sgt. Louis Marino, a loadmaster with the 701st Airlift Squadron. "It has been a very uplifting experience."
Six members of the 701 AS were originally scheduled to fly to Iraq on a re-supply mission, but instead volunteered at the last minute to transport two rescue vehicles containing seismic reading equipment that would be used to identify the trapped miners' location Aug. 12.
The aircrew transported the equipment for the Department of Labor from Pittsburgh International Airport, Pa., to Colorado where it was then driven to the site of the mine collapse to aide in the rescue efforts.
After they delivered the equipment, rescuers at the mine successfully drilled a small tunnel large enough for a microphone to be lowered down near where the miners were located at the time of the collapse. As of yet, no sounds have been heard that would confirm the trapped minors are still alive, but they have detected vibrations.
"My prayers are with them all," said Master Sgt. Marino.
After the vibrations were detected, rescuers decided to drill another hole in that area in an effort to reach the miners.
"As an Air Force Reservist, I am proud of what we do," said Maj. Dave Dantzscher, 701 AS pilot. "Whenever we can help our fellow Americans with something like this, we are happy to step forward and help any way we can. Our thoughts and prayers are still with the miners and their families, and we pray for a good outcome."