Photo By Cmdr. Theresa Carpenter | Equipment Operator 2nd Class Justin Williams receives Letter of Appreciation for his...... read more read more
GULFPORT, Miss. – In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which tore through the East Coast with unprecedented ferocity, Equipment Operator 2nd Class Justin Williams, assigned to Naval Construction Group (NCG) 2, stepped up to aid his community in need.
A native of Middlebourne, West Virginia, Williams felt a personal connection to the region and an overwhelming sense of duty to help those left devastated by the storm.
“I come from the mid-range part of the Appalachian Mountains in West Virginia,” said Williams. “It hurt to see my fellow mountain folk suffering from this biblical catastrophe. I knew I needed to go help from day one of the storm. It just ate and ate at me until I told myself it was enough, and that I was going, and there was not to be anyone to tell me otherwise.”
Residents characterized the hurricane as nothing short of catastrophic as it cut off several Appalachian settlements from vital services. Homes were reduced to rubble, roads were swept out, and residents were left secluded without access to food, water, or medical assistance. Determined to make a difference, Williams joined the grassroots relief efforts almost immediately, leveraging his experience and training as a Navy Seabee.
Williams became a member of a team that brought together neighbors and strangers from all across the country to assist with relief operations. He claimed that he had never anticipated this level of cooperation.
“I think the amount of help that came from private citizens was the most surprising to me, other than all the destruction from the storm,” said Williams. “Meeting locals and people from across the nation coming together in this small region to help one another out gave me such a sense of pride for American culture. We worked hand in hand conducting a multitude of operations throughout the region just trying to help our neighbors.”
Williams’ role in the relief efforts extended beyond physical labor. Using his experience as a Seabee, he adapted his skills to the disaster’s unpredictable challenges. Whether analyzing washed-out roads or organizing supplies, his contributions often became the backbone of the teams working to reach those stranded by the hurricane.
“I did not think I was going to be as big of an asset as I was when I arrived up there,” said Williams. “I used skills that I had learned throughout my time in the Seabees, such as terrain analysis and operational logistical coordination, to get teams into areas that were cut off from man-made routes. We started creating ‘pack out’ lists for our teams to take out to give initial relief supplies to the victims to be sure they at least had something.”
For Williams, the encounter had a profound effect. He claimed that the volunteers' camaraderie and the impacted communities' tenacity restored his belief in the effectiveness of group efforts.
“It’s easy to feel helpless when you see devastation like that, but what I learned is that even small efforts make a big difference,” said Williams. “When people come together with a shared purpose, they can accomplish incredible things.”
For Williams, the experience was both humbling and eye-opening. He believes the drive to help comes from within and encourages others to follow their instincts when it comes to making a difference. He hopes to inspire other Sailors and service members to answer the call to help in similar situations.
“The only advice I can give is just to listen to your heart,” said Williams. “If you can feel and know deep down you can help, no matter the capacity, help. People can see devastation and have feelings of sorrow and sadness, but when those feelings grip your heart, that’s where the determination to help makes all the difference. Passion is what will drive you beyond that wall of basic logical reasoning.”
Even though Hurricane Helene's immediate effects are over, reconstruction is still ongoing. For Williams, the event demonstrated the impact one courageous person can have during emergencies. His account is proof of the human spirit's determination and immense impact of compassion and service.
“It may not seem like much at the time, but your small contribution can lead to everlasting effects,” said Williams.
| Date Taken: | 12.09.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 12.17.2024 12:40 |
| Story ID: | 487019 |
| Location: | GULFPORT, MISSISSIPPI, US |
| Hometown: | MIDDLEBOURNE, WEST VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 92 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Gulfport Seabee Answers the Call to Help After Hurricane Helene, by PO1 Jeffrey Yale, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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