Matt Martinka remembers the brush scraping his arms, the weight of the tools strapped to his back and the mud that nearly pulled off his boots with every step.
He’d worked storm recovery before – but never like this.
He saw firsthand how Hurricane Helene tore through the Southeast in September 2024, knocking out power to more than 3.4 million Duke Energy customers and rendering western North Carolina unrecognizable.
Floodwaters swallowed towns, steel poles bent and Asheville’s Charles George VA Medical Center – a critical facility serving thousands of veterans – was in the dark.
A journeyman lineworker and U.S. Air Force veteran, Martinka knew what was at stake. So after hearing the team talk about the hospital on the radio, he turned to his apprentice, Nathan Curlee, and said: “Hey, we can do this. Let’s get this one for the VA.”
Together, they strapped on their gear and hiked nearly two miles up the mountain through flood-ravaged terrain and chest-high brush to reach the hospital’s distribution line.
After completing their safety checks, they got to work. By the day’s end, power was restored.
Federal and state recognition
In July – as communities across the Southeast prepared to mark the first anniversary of Hurricane Helene – Martinka and Curlee were honored in Washington, D.C., for their actions. The ceremony, hosted by U.S. Senators Thom Tillis and Ted Budd, both of North Carolina, and the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, recognized their service and sacrifice.
Both Senators and their offices worked closely with Duke Energy teams throughout Helene restoration – relaying critical information and support requests from constituents, helping to coordinate federal response on the ground and in Washington, and advocating for near-term and long-term resources to help communities rebuild.
"Our federal partners play a critical role during storm response," said Pepper Natonski, Duke Energy's senior vice president for federal affairs, philanthropy and sustainability. "By coordinating federal resources and advocating on behalf of their constituents, they help us respond more effectively. We deeply value that partnership, which is vital for restoring service safely and quickly after a storm of this magnitude."
At the ceremony, the lineworkers also received letters of commendation from former VA Secretary Robert Wilkie and Col. Jon Lauder, senior advisor at the VA.
“Your actions and your heroism saved lives,” Col. Lauder said. “When I read about the terrain you went up, I thought, ‘I could use these guys in Afghanistan.’ But then I thought, ‘I’m glad they were here in western North Carolina.’”
Sen. Tillis praised the lineworkers for their ingenuity and grit and thanked Martinka for his military service.
“You made a huge impact,” Sen. Tillis said. “You should be proud of it, and we should all be proud of you.”
Sen. Budd also emphasized the significance of their actions.
"It's hard to think of a more important mission than keeping care accessible for our veterans," Budd said. "I'm grateful to these Duke Energy lineworkers for their determination and am proud to recognize their service."
Their story continued to draw praise back home, too. North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein praised the pair at a Lineworker Appreciation Day event at the Governor’s Mansion in Raleigh. And on Sept. 27, U.S. Congressman Chuck Edwards will present a flag in their honor at the Asheville VA hospital.
Service in storm restoration
Martinka’s and Curlee’s actions were part of one of the largest storm recoveries in Duke Energy history, with more than 23,000 field personnel deployed for the company’s storm restoration efforts.
Their story captured national attention, with features in Southern Living and People, highlighting the physical and emotional demands of linework. And as the anniversary of Helene approaches, their determination serves as a reminder of both the storm’s devastation and the resilience of those who responded.
For both men, the VA mission was personal.
“Those guys have given so much,” Curlee said. “And in our way, we gave it back to them.”