The American Legion Post 166 & Hurricane Hugo
22 September 1989, the morning following that exciting night (9-21-89) with the rain, 180 mile an hour winds (as was reported in some areas), as well as tornadoes. Trees were both uprooted as well as being snapped in half, outdoor buildings (sheds) were being blown down and being deposited in various yards, trees falling on houses, roofs being destroyed, windows being blown out and flooding. Of course, there was no electricity, no water for drinking, washing, or flushing. Then it came – VROOMNMNMNMN, that wonderful, romantic sound of chainsaws singing their songs. Neighbors clearing the roads so we could use them to exit our subdivisions. Sirens being heard everywhere, National Guard troops patrolling neighborhoods, guarding private businesses, and directing traffic.
After securing our own property, many of us headed to the Post to check on damage to our beloved new building (a couple of years old.) To our relief, it was still standing, a little damaged, without water or electricity – but still standing.
Within a couple of days, panel trucks, box trucks and 18 wheelers from American Legion Posts located from as far south as Florida, Mississippi and Louisiana and as far north as New Hampshire and as far west as Kentucky and Tennessee began arriving with needed supplies, i.e. canned food, clothing, baby supplies, flashlights, batteries, AND water. Just about anything and everything that was needed was warmly welcomed. However, these trucks had to be off-loaded and turned around to return home or wherever they came from. Guess who off-loaded these trucks. We did!
Legionnaires of Post 166, SAL Squadron 166 members and ladies of Auxiliary Unit 166. There were no forklifts or pallet jacks…. All done by hand. (What a working party.) Some trucks still arriving for several days.
During this off-loading process, the material and supplies had to be assembled, inventoried, and staged for delivery and distribution. This task became the responsibility of Auxiliary Unit 166. They turned the ‘Columbo’ Room into a well-organized warehouse. This was accomplished with the use of generators, flashlights, and battle lanterns for lighting. Following the identification, inventorying, and staging of this material, Legionnaires and SAL members of Post 166 (those who owned pick-up trucks) began delivering these same supplies to areas and towns outside of Goose Creek. Some supplies were delivered to churches, fire stations, and evacuation centers as far away as Ravenel, Hollywood, Meggett, Adams Run, Jacksonboro, Awendaw, St. Stephen, Bonneau, Jamestown, and beyond. Some supplies were being delivered to needy families in the Goose Creek, Hanahan, North Charleston, and Summerville areas. As well as additional supplies were being picked up by individuals.
Now, during all of this ’fun’ we, as well as our neighbors, were getting hungry and had to eat. Of course, we had no electricity other than the generator power for lighting. However, we cook with gas! Our neighbors up and down Howe Hall Road, Redbank Road, as well as the closer subdivisions were bringing in their thawed food to be cooked and consumed. Needless to say, our galley was going strong 24 hours a day. The chow line began at our galley door and continued down the length of the bar, out the front door, across the parking lot and onto both directions of Howe Hall Road.
Legionnaires of Post 166 and ladies of Auxiliary of Unit 166 prepared the food and fed our neighbors, as well as police, fire, National Guard, and other emergency personnel AND of course, ourselves. As previously stated, this was done 24 hours a day for weeks. The real kicker was, there were no food choices – you ate what was placed on your Styrofoam or paper plate. (I could tell you a couple of good stories about that – right, Richard Thompson?)
All of this was accomplished under the leadership of, then, Post Commander James D. (Jim) Marrale (deceased), along with the Auxiliary Unit 166 President ‘Rena’ Waddell and then, Club Manager Aninna Waddell. This entire effort was a result of Legionnaires, Auxiliary member, and SAL members working together for ‘Service to the Community, State, and Nation.’
To the best of my knowledge, Post 166 has never received a ‘Thank You’ from the City, County or State.
However, for those of us who were a part of this endeavor, as well as those who have passed on, remember what we did.