Alaska State Adjutant General visits the FOL

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Malinda Singleton
  • 478th Expeditionary Operations Squadron Public Affairs
FORWARD OPERATING LOCATION MANTA, Ecuador --  Maj. Gen. Craig Campbell, Alaska State Adjutant General, visited the Airmen of the 478th Expeditionary Operations Squadron Nov. 15 in order to show support for his troops.

Airmen from Alaska Air National Guard's 168th Air Refueling Wing are currently deployed here supporting operations at the FOL.

During his visit, he traveled to Comedor De Divino Niños, which is a "soup kitchen" that feeds children in a local impoverished neighborhood. While there, he pledged $405 towards the purchase of two doors and three windows, which the building currently does not have. They arrived on a KC-135, which also brought down bags of rice, beans, and a box of school supplies that he donated to the kitchen.

The next stop on his visit was to Shekinah Orphanage, where he visited with the children and donated bags of rice and beans, boxes of clothes, shoes, stuffed animals, toiletries, and toys. The children in return presented him with a poster showing their gratitude.

"Everywhere the Air National Guard goes, we are not just involved in our military duty, but also our civic duty by helping local communities," said Maj. Gen. Campbell. "Since we are from Alaska, where many of us have built our own homes, we have been able to bring these talents to Ecuador and help out the people in Manta."

Members of the 168th ARW spent much of their off-time out in the community working at Shekinah Orphanage, and also at Por Amor Orphanage located in a nearby village. At Por Amor Orphanage they built paths, as well as cleaned and repaired parts of their future home. They were also able to spend time playing soccer and other games with the children.

"All of this ties into what we do in the Air National Guard, which is taking care of our local community," said Lt. Col. Mark Dewey, the 168th ARW Detachment Commander while at the FOL. "We could not have done as much as we did on our short time here without the many members of our unit taking the time out to volunteer."