“I believe they are likely dead.”
These were the sentiments expressed by former Green Beret Adam Smith to his fiancée on September 28 regarding his 3-year-old daughter Tove and her mother. Their home in North Carolina was situated merely 40 yards from a torrent of water, swollen beyond its banks due to Hurricane Helene. No communication had been established with them since Thursday night, and it had now turned to Saturday.
Despite the grim outlook, Smith felt compelled to attempt a rescue, teaming up with a friend of a friend who owned a helicopter. He was on board for the mission.
“When we landed, the greatest joy of my life unfolded before my eyes,” recounted Smith, founder and CEO of a tactical training company called Savage Freedoms. “My daughter came running around barefoot, skipping and twirling in a grassy field, and it was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever witnessed.”
This rescue led Smith to an important realization: it wasn’t sufficient to save just Tove and her mother. There were numerous others in distress — and Smith had the expertise to assist. Thus, Savage Freedoms Relief Operations, known as Savage Ops, was established in the parking lot of a Harley Davidson shop in Swannanoa, dedicated to providing relief supplies, rebuilding infrastructure, ensuring vehicle access, offering logistical support, and instilling hope in hurricane-affected residents. By the tenth day of Savage Ops’ formation, around 120 individuals had joined him through word of mouth, most being former special operators.
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“Green Berets, Navy SEALs, pararescue, and MARSOC personnel from national strategic assets took the initiative — we had everyone,” Smith stated, estimating that his team logged nearly 29,000 man-hours in the initial two weeks. “By day 10, we had almost a million pounds of supplies delivered.”
Justin Neal, a former Army Ranger, is now part of what locals named “the redneck air force.” He and about 40 other former Rangers ventured into western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene struck, eager to lend a hand. After receiving a call regarding the operation at the Harley Davidson, he felt compelled to learn more.
“Ask for a guy named Adam,” his source advised. And he did; within five minutes, Neal committed to the effort.
“We don’t seek glory; we’re here solely to assist,” said Neal, a soldier from 2012-2017. “I planned to stay for three days, but ended up staying for 10. I just couldn’t walk away.”
Neal, Smith, and their peers encountered devastation on a scale that was hard to comprehend. Smith described it as “the worst destruction I’ve ever encountered, even more severe than a war zone.” Many people who spotted Savage Ops’ shirts didn’t even introduce themselves — they simply burst into tears and embraced the team members out of gratitude.
“We work from dawn till dusk every day,” Smith shared, indicating his intent to remain in western North Carolina for the foreseeable future. “The operations are ongoing with road and yard cleanups, mucking out homes, construction projects, sourcing hay and feed for livestock, and fundraising to pay contractors to help them resume their work.”
Their work garnered attention from former President Donald Trump, who met with Smith on October 21 at an auto repair shop in Swannanoa. However, the true significance lies in the sense of purpose and unity Savage Ops has provided its members, including Neal.
“I hadn’t felt this level of purpose since my time in Afghanistan,” he expressed. “I find more meaning in Savage Freedoms than I have in my whole life, including my military service.”
Currently, Smith emphasized, their mission is to restore North Carolina to its former state. Achieving this will require determination, effort, and funding — but Savage Ops is ready for the challenge.
“We cannot allow western North Carolina to be overlooked,” Smith affirmed. “And we won’t.”