Whiteman Airmen help build, hope to Joplin

  • Published
  • By Heidi Hunt
  • 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  Twenty-five Airmen from the 509th Civil Engineer Squadron at Whiteman Air Force Base volunteered with the Joplin and Tulsa Habitat for Humanity project Nov. 1.

With more than a combined total of 230 hours, the Airmen planned, traveled and spent the day to help build 10 homes, for 10 families in a blitz build spanning 16 days.

Their effort to reach out to the Tulsa chapter and volunteer to bring a group from Whiteman AFB was initiated by Master Sgt. Benjamin Huseman, 509th Civil Engineer Squadron operations support superintendent and Johnson County Habit for Humanity board member.

"I saw there was a need to give back to the community and I pitched the idea to my peers," said Huseman, Air Force Global Strike Command sergeant. "I was able to get 15 slots from the Habitat for Humanity coordinator and within a day, I was able to fill those 15 slots."

Huseman's response became overwhelming as more Airmen heard about the project as more Airmen offered their skills and expertise; the master sergeant was able to get an additional 10 slots.

"The opportunity for us to take the skills the Air Force has taught us and help our community is only a minuscule part of giving back," Huseman said.

Like many of his counterparts, Senior Airman Scott Guilfoil, 509th CES paving and construction operations, said he volunteered to be a part of the project because he wanted to reach out and do something good for the community members of Joplin.

Even though six-months have passed since the EF-5 tornado destroyed much of the Joplin area, the need to help victims without homes continues, according to www.tenforjoplin.org.

"The Airmen from Whiteman AFB really helped make a difference and we appreciate their work," said Scott Clayton, Joplin Area Habit for Humanity executive director.

Community mindedness is one of the backbones behind being a part of the 509th CES and the Air Force, according to Huseman.

Huseman said the best part of the experience was being able to work on the houses alongside the home owner, Thomas Short.

"Just hearing the excitement from Short's voice when he talked about how he now had a living room and which room would be his sons, was really the best part about building the house," he said.

Before the 509th CES Airmen departed Joplin, they presented Short with a B-2 plaque as a gesture to show additional support to families that lost everything in the tornado.

"This experience was awesome and I couldn't have asked for a better group of people to work with," he said. "Everyone was in great spirits and the worked lined up well."

A Habitat for Humanity dedication is scheduled Nov. 19 and the 10 families will receive the keys to their new homes, shortly before the Thanksgiving holiday.