An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Whiteman Airmen provide 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, Mo., volunteered with the Joplin and Tulsa Habitat for Humanity project Nov. 1.

Volunteering more than 230 total hours, the Airmen planned, traveled and spent the day helping build portions of 10 homes during the 16-day construction project.

The effort to reach out to the Tulsa chapter and 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 pitched the idea to my peers," said Huseman. "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."

As more Airmen heard about the project and offered their skills and expertise, Huseman was able to get an additional 10 slots for the project.

"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, according to the Web site, www.tenforjoplin.org, the need to help victims without homes continues.

"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, said Huseman.

Huseman said the best part of the experience was being able to work on the houses alongside the homeowner.

"Just hearing the excitement from the homeowner'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 Airmen departed Joplin, the 509th CES Airmen presented the homeowner with a B-2 plaque as a gesture of 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," Huseman said. "Everyone was in great spirits and the worked lined up well."

On Nov. 19, the families will receive their keys during a Habitat for Humanity dedication - just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday.