Malmstrom volunteers bring down the house

  • Published
  • By Airman Cortney Hansen
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  A recent cry for help was heard and answered by several Air Force Global Strike Command Airmen stationed at Malmstrom.

After a fire damaged a house on Dec. 30, it was considered a nuisance to the Great Falls Community thus, needing to be torn down. The owners of the house, unable to conduct or afford the demolition by themselves, welcomed Malmstrom volunteers - who weren't afraid to get their hands dirty - to their residence May 12 and 13.

"Police considered [the house] a nuisance property after a transient was found living in it. The city was going to place a lein on the property if it was not torn down withing 60 days," said Donald Emeline, house owner. "A friend put us together with Amanda Parker [from Malmstrom's legal office, who] has been just amazing on coming through with all the help on this."

Members from the 819th RED HORSE Squadron operated the heavy machinery they're certified to use while volunteers from the 341st Security Forces Squadron cleared debris during the demolition process.

"I heard about this project through our first sergeant and I thought it would be a good idea to come and help the community out in whatever way we could," said Senior Airman Ben Bryan, a 341st Security Forces Squadron member. "Everybody is just having a good time tearing down a house - can't beat that at all."

The tear down process was anything but easy but the dedicated Malmstrom volunteers pushed through the hard work and everybody came out a winner.

"It always makes you feel good to do good for other people," said Tech. Sgt. Edmond Bourque, 341st SFS member. "I do it because I'd like the same done for me if circumstances were different."