They call themselves Veterans 4 Puerto Rico and their mission is to bring clean water, communication and comfort to the island.
They represent the Army, Navy Marines Air Force, Coast Guard and the Meriden Fire Department.
They said the skills of preparedness, speed and strategic thinking learned in their respective services have equipped them for the relief mission. The men planned to visit Puerto Rico, travel around the island delivering care packages and other assistance in several towns.
NBC Connecticut first spoke to the five men in October. Since then, member Ray Guasp has made two trips to Puerto Rico, bringing water to hundreds if not thousands of people. But Guasp says there is still work to be done.
"What we saw was massive destruction throughout the island, Guasp said. "The power grid was down. Trees were down. It was total devastation on the ground."
Guasp is Puerto Rican and has family on the island.
Veterans 4 has been crisscrossing Puerto Rico with DIVVY systems, which deliver clean drinkable water to communities that otherwise do not have access. The systems are capable of pumping 250 gallons of potable water per hour.
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Several men dedicated to service in Connecticut are using their skills to get clean water and other relief to Puerto Rico.
"As soon as we get in, we started cutting red tape right from the beginning. We asked them where their needs were, where do you need water and how do we get there?" Guasp said.
Back home in Chester on his break between his second and upcoming third trip to the island, the former marine said the dramatic need for the most basic supplies in Puerto Rico still isn't being met, and that's why his team keeps running.
Guasp heads back to Puerto Rico next week. So far, he's raised more than $30,000 to take seven divvy machines to the island, where they'll be given to local communities to generate clean water.
La Marea Ristorante in Old Saybrook is hosting a benefit for Veterans 4 Puerto Rico on Monday December 4. You can learn more about Veterans 4 Puerto Rico at www.veterans4.org.
