By Pfc. Shane Lumpkins, Pvt. Gwendolyn Owens and Staff Sgt. Mark Rickert

372nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, Nashville, Tenn.

LAS CALDERAS, Dominican Republic – For more than a month, the surrounding communities of the Las Calderas Dominican Republic Naval Base have been without running water—a result of possible vandalism which dismantled the electrical components of the main water-distributing pump.

When Sgt. 1st Class Dwayne Ramirez, 973rd Quartermaster Company, here in support of Tradewinds 2008, a multinational training exercise comprised of 18 nations, learned of this crisis, he was moved with an overwhelming sense of compassion, and when he shared this with his unit, they joined in with his enthusiasm. Together, they set into motion a plan to bring water to the people.

“This mission was unexpected,” said Ramirez. “We were overwhelmed with the need to help.”

While representatives of the Dominican Navy have been making preparations to fix the water pumps that will reestablish water flow, some people have taken desperate measures to acquire water for their families. According to Bautista Casado, a resident of the community, she chose to acquire drinking water through other costly means, sometimes spending as much as a month’s income per barrel. For Casado, this posed a difficult decision: buy food or buy water.

“I hardly have the money to pay for food to eat,” said Casado. “So I would not be able to pay for both.”

To assist the people, the Soldiers employed a local fire truck holding 1,200 gallons of water and drove it through the villages, while the locals gathered along the streets with large plastic drums and buckets. Next, the Soldiers visited local elementary schools and medical clinics, where they replenished their water reservoirs. During the first day of operation, the unit made a total of six distribution runs, donating 7,200 gallons of water, and they intend to make daily distribution runs for the remainder of Tradewinds.

The 973rd made great sacrifices while meeting the challenges of this mission. The Soldiers work from morning to night, seven days a week, rotating shifts, to meet the communities’ daily water needs. Though this means extra work for the unit, the Soldiers feel that the deed is worth while.

“We take this very personally,” said Ramirez. “While performing this mission and seeing the faces of the people, we were overwhelmed. They hugged us and thanked God for sending us.”

Although the Puerto Rican Soldiers are in the US Army, they still consider themselves part of the Latin community. “For us, it’s a special mission. Not only are we representing the United States before the local community, it’s twice as great [for them] to see their Latin brothers and sisters helping them.”

This desire to help those in need regardless of nationality underscores the spirit of Tradewinds, which embraces the idea of a global community and cooperation. Now that Soldiers are making efforts to bring water into Las Calderas and their neighbors, citizens like Casado don’t have to choose between water and food.