After an F3 tornado hit Evansville, Ind., on Nov. 6, the town was left in ruins. The tornado, which tore through 41 miles, killed 22 people and injured more than 230, with six people still unaccounted for.

William Downs, junior in industrial technology, coordinated efforts to get seven ISU ROTC members and one enlisted marine to Indiana to help with cleanup efforts over Thanksgiving break.

Originally Downs’ plans were to take 17 ROTC members to New Orleans and volunteer with the American Red Cross for Hurricane Katrina cleanup.

When Downs found out the group would not be able to go to New Orleans, he made calls to find other volunteer options and found out volunteers were needed in Indiana. He couldn’t obtain a university van for the trip without being part of a student organization, so ActivUs, a campus group, sponsored them.

The group cleaned debris out of more than 300 acres of farm fields during the trip.

“We had made the farmers smile for the first time since the tornado hit,” said Perry Kendrick, junior in psychology, and volunteer on the trip.

Another student on the trip, Michael Wiederholt, freshman in political science, said the most rewarding part for him was the amazed reaction he received when he helped clean up an elderly woman’s house, which had been destroyed.

The city had stopped picking up debris that residents left on the side of the road, so the group also helped take the debris to Dumpsters the city provided.

The Salvation Army in the area had received a semi-truck full of items donated to those who lost everything in the tornado, so the ROTC members also helped unload and organize the donated items.

Matt Rechkemmer, junior in industrial technology, said he was disappointed he didn’t get to spend Thanksgiving at home with his family, but he knew the people in Indiana needed his help. Wiederholt also said he missed not being with his family, but the people in Indiana made him feel at home.

A group of farmers who had their field cleaned by the group took them to dinner the day after Thanksgiving. Downs said the farmers and their families made them feel like they were part of the family, too.

Rechemmer said the trip was a good way to spend the break.

“Being able to see the people we were helping and knowing that we had helped lift the heavy burden within a couple days when they thought it would take weeks [made the trip worth it],” he said.