Fort Bragg soldiers back in St. Thomas after Hurricane Maria

ST. THOMAS (WTVD) -- Fort Bragg soldiers are back in St. Thomas to help treat victims of Hurricane Irma. The members of the 44th Medical Brigade left North Carolina almost two weeks ago. They set up near the badly-damaged hospital on the island but had to stay in a Navy ship for a week due to Hurricane Maria. They arrived back in St. Thomas Saturday.

ABC11 talked to First Sgt. Rafael Colon over the phone from St. Thomas. He said he had a chance to check out the island post-Maria.

"The surge from the sea pretty much destroyed a lot of the off-shore hotels and off-shore facilities and things of that nature, so I think there was a significant amount of extra damage," 1 SG Colon said.

First Sgt. Colon has been seeing the images from Maria's destruction in his home country of Puerto Rico. He hasn't been able to reach his mother and sisters there. But thankfully, he has gotten word they are OK. He said he's comforted knowing soldiers are also helping in Puerto Rico.

"Looking at my soldiers and the hard work that they're doing to help the citizens of St. Thomas, it kind of gives me a warm feeling in the heart because I know FEMA and Army and all the agencies are helping out in Puerto Rico so I know they'll be taken care of," he said.