ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands - More than 300 Soldiers assigned to the Puerto Rico Army National Guard departed St. Thomas on Thursday, after assisting with hurricane recovery efforts in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Following Hurricane Irma, Puerto Rico mobilized members of the 1st Battalion, 65th Infantry Regiment and 124th Military Police Battalion to assist the Virgin Islands National Guard on the badly damaged islands of St. Thomas and St. Johns.
The Soldiers helped to establish and manage food and supplies distribution points throughout the islands, maintained multiple security checkpoints and performed high volume water purification.
Maj. Mario Piñeiro Miranda with the Puerto Rico Army National Guard's 65th Infantry Regiment serves as deputy commander for Puerto Rico's Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and high yield Explosive Enhanced Response Force Package.
While assigned to Puerto Rico's tactical operations center, he was uniquely positioned to witness the significant increase in assistance provided by the deployed Soldiers.
"We started with three tactical security checkpoints and five distribution locations," Miranda said. "When we finished we were maintaining seven security checkpoints and distributing food and water at 18 locations throughout the islands."
Shortly into their deployment, Tropical Storm Maria had intensified into a hurricane, threatening many of the same communities still damaged from the passing of Hurricane Irma.
The Puerto Rican Soldiers were forced to shelter in place at a local school as the Category 5 hurricane passed approximately 45 miles to their south, causing additional flooding and wind damage to the islands.
While St. Thomas had been spared a direct hit, Puerto Rico was not as fortunate. The historic storm made landfall on Puerto Rico the following morning to devastating effect. The entire island was left without power, and communications were limited or nonexistent.
In the wake of Hurricane Maria, the Soldiers would continue to carry out their Virgin Islands mission until additional National Guard personnel were en route to replace them.
Lt. Col. Sally Petty, Commander of the Virgin Islands hurricane response task force on St. Thomas, recognized the sacrifice and significant contribution made by the Puerto Rican Soldiers.
"The tremendous efforts of our neighbors reflected true compassion, unselfish caring and dedication to those in need," Petty said. "The Puerto Rico National Guard has helped restore hope to the people of the Virgin Islands."
As they departed St. Thomas for home, 85 percent of the Soldiers had not yet been able to contact their families; of those that had made contact, eight had lost their homes.
The Soldiers of the 65th Infantry Regiment were instructed to return to their homes to be with their families. Those without issues requiring their attention would report back 48 hours later, to continue the hurricane recovery mission in Puerto Rico.
"I couldn't ask for better Soldiers," Miranda said. "Every single one of them is an outstanding example of what it means to wear the uniform."