Haitians receiving care and support aboard Bataan
The multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) transits off the coast of Haiti while conducting flight operations supporting relief efforts on the ground. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Ryan Steinhour
The crew of the USS Bataan is adding language capabilities and medical care for earthquake victims as part of Operation Unified Response Haiti.
“We are pleased to be able to exercise our medical capability in support of those who need it in Haiti,†Navy Capt. Samuel Charles Henry-Howard, commanding officer of the USS Bataan told bloggers and journalists yesterday during a “DoDLive” bloggers roundtable.
The ship had returned Dec. 8 from a seven-month deployment to the Fifth and Sixth Fleets. “We had just finished leave … resting up from seven months of deploy[ment],†Howard said. “Late Tuesday evening, a decision was made for us to go to a 48-hour ready for sea, and by Wednesday morning we were directed to get underway 36 hours thereafter.â€
Howard said his crew is prepared to stay for the foreseeable future. “We’ll be here for as long as we’re directed and happy to do so,†he said.
Along with the medical capabilities the Bataan offers, Howard said he has six French Creole speakers and nearly a dozen sailors who speak French who will assist when patients are brought aboard Bataan.
As of today, the Bataan has 22 patients aboard for medical care and is establishing a triage process ashore so they can bring aboard earthquake victims who need a certain level of care.
The patients on the ship vary in age from a newborn, whose cry was extremely gratifying to the crew, to a 70-year-old woman who is resting comfortably after being found buried under rubble, Howard said.
The ship has been augmented with 78 additional personnel for medical services. “We are currently getting them oriented and they will join the medical capacity we have shortly,†he said. “When all medical personnel arrive aboard the ship we will have a team of 117 that will be able to fully operate four operating rooms.â€
Howard said the purpose of the ship is to provide aid in the best way possible.
The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit also is using the Bataan as its headquarters and is using the flight deck of the ship to support helicopter operations for a relief distribution center set up ashore.
“We are operating on flight deck 24 hours a day,†Howard said. “All during the day we are flying and accepting all comers.â€
Howard said he has prepared his crew to be in Haiti until directed otherwise. “As more arms and legs are needed we have an entire crew that is excited to help.â€
This is a personal mission for several crew members who are of Haitian descent, he added. They are continuing the mission in spite of losing family members and having a personal tie to Haiti.
“We are pleased to be the arms and legs of the U.S. to join in the international effort to help Haiti,†Howard said. “This is the kind of thing that makes being in the Navy extremely rewarding.â€
DoD
by Christen N. McCluney
Defense Media Activity’s emerging media directorate
Table of contents for Haiti quake 2010
- Massive earthquake strikes Haiti
- Earthquake in Haiti – aftershocks continue
- Haiti earthquake aid
- Haiti quake damages pile up
- Horror in Haiti – the morning after the quake
- U.S. quickly responds to Haiti quake
- Infrastructure hurdles to Haiti quake relief
- U.S. Coast Guard on location in Haiti right now
- Strong aftershocks continue in Haiti
- PR Guard standing by – Gitmo damaged by Haiti quake
- Paras and Marines on alert for Haiti move
- Earthquake in Haiti update for January 13 evening
- Earthquake in Haiti – January 14 morning update
- Marines ready to assist Haiti after earthquake
- Earthquake in Haiti – Update for January 14 evening
- FEMA report on Haiti relief efforts for January 15
- Out of the night sky – Air Force secures Port-au-Prince airport
- Earthquake in Haiti – January 15 evening
- Haiti Quake Relief Funding Numbers
- But people are dying – thoughts on the Haitian disaster
- Aftershocks continue to rock Haiti
- Earthquake in Haiti – Update for January 16
- Haiti Quake Relief Funding Numbers for Jan 16
- Hospital ship Comfort sails for Haiti
- Baby delivered during Haiti evacuation
- Navy is delivering supplies to Haiti victims
- Hospital ship Comfort racing to Haiti
- Country club serves as forward base for Paras in Haiti
- Situation at Port-au-Prince airport improving
- Sanjay Gupta Assists Vinson Medical Team in Haiti
- USAID Update on the Haiti relief operation January 18
- Air drop to aid Haitian victims of earthquake
- Haiti Quake Relief Funding Numbers for Jan 18
- Earthquake in Haiti – morning update January 19
- Los Angeles rescuers save Haitian woman
- Stories from Haiti – update for Jan 20 morning
- American volunteers in Haiti
- American donations for Haiti earthquake relief – Jan 21
- Haiti earthquake relief update for Jan 21
- Haitians receiving care and support aboard Bataan
- Hospital ship Comfort healing, hugging Haitians
- Brief update on Navy and Marine relief efforts in Haiti Jan 23
- Fort Hood veterinary services unit sent to Haiti
- Harbor damage in Port-au-Prince
- American giving for Haiti relief as of January 25
- Comparison of Haiti donations to Katrina and the tsunami
- Haitian Coast Guard base becomes hub for quake relief
- Comparison of Haiti donations to Katrina and the tsunami Jan 28
- High tech warbird aids Haiti relief efforts
- High-speed ferrys en route to Haiti
- Southern Command briefs on Haiti situation
- Paras opening roads in Haiti
- Aid from Dominican Republic via Kentucky National Guard
- Haitian assistance stories for February 3
- Haitian relief efforts slow
- Marine calls Leogane Haiti home
- Haiti earthquake relief update for February 7
- Army medics at work in Haiti relief effort
- Haiti earthquake relief funding update for February 14
- Keeping Haitians informed
- A tent means a lot to Haitian orphans
- Italian troops aid paras in Haiti rubble clearance
- Landslide in Haiti tests Special Ops rescuers
- Navy and Marines bridge Haitian divide from government
- Haitian earthquake relief – update for February 28
- Haitian earthquake update – March 4
- Air Guard Engineers Help Haitians
- Things are baaaaad in Haiti
the attachments to this post:
USS Bataan offshore Haiti
