Two Colombian Armada tender boat operators, crew members from the Cartagena de Indias, pilot their craft towards a small port in Killick to the awaiting U.S. vessel, landing craft utility 2026, the Hobkirk, April 22, near the conclusion of a 6-day mission with the U.S. Army and other non-government organizations. Cooperation between the U.S. Army, Colombian Armada and Army, along with Red Cross groups from both Haiti and Colombia, resulted in several thousand tons of humanitarian supplies reaching the Haitian people. Photo by Capt. Jose Emperador

It’s almost as if the multi-national team of Haitians, Colombians and Americans, who began working less than one week ago to offload humanitarian cargo inbound from Colombia, have been working together for years.

The complex effort of transferring cargo from the anchored Colombian Armada Navy ship, Cartagena Indias, to two alternating U.S. Army landing craft utility vessels, the Matamoras and the Hobkirk, near a small port at Killick, Haiti seemed like a routine effort to the novice mariner. Representatives from all organizations credit teamwork, cooperation and motivation as the catalyst for the successful operation which ended April 22. And no matter which language was being spoken, be it Creole, French, Spanish, English or a mangled combination of all four, everyone involved seemed to agree that the cooperation was “excelente.”

Colombian Armada ship Commander Jose Guillermo Rodriguez says a chance meeting at Port-au-Prince’s main port with U.S. Navy and Army officers began the discussion of a possible joint cooperative mission between the two allies. Rodriguez, skipper of the Cartagena de Indias, a ship used by Colombia primarily for counter drug patrols off the South American country’s coast, said the partnership began forming during the initial encounter. “As soon as I met the officers from the [U.S.] Navy and Army, we began discussing how we could help each other,” Rodriguez said. “After further discussion, we determined they could help us offload cargo from the Cartagena and get it ashore to waiting representatives from the Colombian Red Cross.” Rodriguez added that the partners between the various organizations were motivated and committed to the effort.

“The Colombian Red Cross in conjunction with the Haitian Red Cross and your Soldiers [U.S. Army] came with the LCU of the Army …and every day they came to help unload,” Rodriguez said.

The Hobkirk’s vessel master, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Willis Allen, says the small, damaged port facility at Killick isn’t conducive to a ship the size of the Cartagena. Allen says his vessel, with a flat bottom and shallow draft, is capable of pulling up right to the beach if needed. This quality, unique to LCU-type boats, allowed him to complete those final legs to shore that the Cartagena previously had to do with its utility skiffs.

“We moor alongside the Colombian ship… we tie up, they take a crane and put a gang way down to our vessel and we just start a chain and start the food down to the vessel,” Allen said.

Allen joined the consensus of opinions in saying there was excellent cooperation between all the agencies involved.

“It shows a lot of hospitality between two countries to make things happen,” Allen said. He also said the Haitian workers, the Colombian Red Cross and the crew of the Cartagena, along with his Soldiers, worked extremely well and efficient together. Prior to the use of the two LCU’s, the Colombians off-loaded a load similar in size but that effort took 18 days.

“It is my understanding that when they unloaded the first shipment they had to unload everything to small boats all by themselves by hand.” said Sgt. 1st Class John Gaviria, who coincidentally is Colombian as well as the Hobkirk’s 1st mate. “The experience that I’ve had with the Colombian Armada, the Colombian Army, and the volunteers of the Colombian Red Cross has been excellent.”

Representatives from the Colombian Army, who helped with transportation on the cargo was offloaded, also shared similar sentiments. Colombian Army Maj. Diego Pastrana, second commander, equivalent to an executive officer, of the Disaster Awareness and Prevention Battalion, said their job has required a lot of effort taking into account that they could have used some much-needed resources. “Here, the American Army has been the fundamental logistical part to all the support necessary,” Pastrana said. “At this moment, we’ve been supported greatly and thanks to that, we are able to continue our support for the Haitian people.”

Jose Estrada Charis, director of area relief for the Colombian Red Cross says all the agencies involved formed a strong team. “Responding to emergencies and natural disasters often create a fraternal bond between various nations in the world involved,” Charis said. “The Colombian Army and Armada [Navy] with the American Army have formed a team with the Colombian Red Cross.”

“The humanitarian supplies that the Colombian Red Cross is providing to the Haitian Red Cross as well as the interaction with the American Army and that great friendship and great team that we’ve now created has created an excellent rapport between us all,” Rodriguez, said. “As the commander of this ship, it is one of my hopes that all our crew remember the images we see on land and learn to better appreciate what we have back in Colombia because, in reality, we all live in paradise.”

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Story by Capt. Jose Emperador

Members of the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division help medically evacuate a Haitian girl and her mother to the U.S. Embassy for medical care. Photo by Antwjuan Richards-Jamison

Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Erin Hunter, health services technician from Miami, and Petty Officer 1st Class Kate Roberts, health services technician aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Oak, treat a woman's wounded hand at the Killick, Haiti, coast guard base, Jan. 28. The Haitian coast guard base has become home for members of the Haitian coast guard and their families after the 7.0 magnitude earthquake killed thousands and left millions homeless, devastated the Port-au-Prince area of Haiti, Jan. 12. (U.S. Coast Guard photo/Petty Officer 1st Class David Mosley)

82nd Airborne surge food to needy Haitians

“We created posters, flyers and radio messages promoting the World Food Program and the government of Haiti, informing the people what to expect during the surge, where to receive coupons for food, and where the distribution sites would be,” said Capt. Ben Biver, operations detachment commander. “We are constantly out watching how our products are working and constantly judging their effectiveness.”

Over 50,000 hand-cranked or solar-powered radios were distributed in the past week by the 2nd BCT and other organizations to ensure those key messages reached the population. “We broadcast public service announcements about the food surge through Commando Solo, (an EC-130 Hercules Aircraft designed to broadcast public service announcements across a various outlets, to include AM and FM frequencies) and also through contracts with local, Port-au-Prince radio stations,” said SSG Carl Kipp, brigade operations NCO, HHC, 2nd BCT.

Early in the morning, paratroopers began the process of distributing aid to the people of Haiti. “We started at 4 a.m.,” said Judah Rothenberger, a canon crewmember with B Battery, 2nd Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment.

As soon as the food was loaded into vehicles and the Soldiers linked up with various non-government organizations, they moved to the distribution sites. “When we got to the distribution site at 5 a.m., people were already lined up,” stated Sgt. Hector Hernandez, section chief, B Battery, 2-319th.

We picked up the food and teams from World Vision Emergency Response, and moved to the distribution site, Rothenberger said. Once we got there, World Vision began unloading the rice and we set up security around the site.

Maria Chiara Mussoni, representative from the WFP, said “From what I see today, it’s very good. It seems to be very secure and very safe.”

Throughout the morning and into the afternoon, the 2nd BCT paratroopers worked in concert with United States Agency for International Development, the WFP, the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti, the Haitian government, and other non-government organizations, to distribute the bags of rice. Falcon troopers acted in a myriad of roles throughout the day.

Spc. Ryan Gonwa and Spc. Alexander Guzman, infantrymen with A Company, 2nd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, carried bags of rice that were too large for their recipients and assisted them in splitting the 100 pound bags into smaller portions so that family members could share the weight.

At another location supported by 2-319th “Black Falcons,” Pvt. Christopher Nordloh checked the vouchers of individuals in line to make sure they were in the right place and were informed of the procedures to receive their food quickly.

By mid-afternoon, 1,142,000 pounds of food had been distributed without any issues from the crowd or the distribution teams. “It’s always a good day when you can help people,” Hernandez said.

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Story by Staff Sgt. John Seth Laughter

Sierra Leone navy Lt. Amara Kallon (front left) and Italian navy Lt. Cmdr. Marco Campasso, part of a multi-national Africa Partnership Station staff embarked aboard USS Gunston Hall, carry an injured Haitian woman to the landing zone at the Killick Haitian Coast Guard Base to be flown to a nearby treatment facility. Click on image for the story.

U.S. Southern Command released the U.S. Navy carrier USS Carl Vinson, Feb. 1.

The ship and its embarked air wing distributed more than 1.1 million pounds of emergency humanitarian aid for earthquake survivors in Haiti since commencing operations in support of Operation Unified Response.

Nineteen helicopters embarked aboard Carl Vinson, the first large-scale, airlift capability to arrive on scene, flew more than 1,000 hours in support of the operation and evacuated 435 patients requiring medical attention since their arrival off Haiti, Jan. 15.

Ten helicopters from the carrier will remain with Joint Task Force-Haiti and will continue to support international relief efforts from other U.S. Navy ships operating near the Haitian coast.

Approximately 40 additional U.S. military helicopters continue to provide critical logistics support to the relief effort.

Also departing after contributing to the relief efforts are the guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill and the oceanographic survey ship USNS Henson. The two ships were among the first U.S. Navy ships to join the carrier in the days immediately following the earthquake that devastated the Caribbean nation, Jan. 12.

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This was the second humanitarian aid distribution the Red Falcons conducted for the town. This drop was more successful than the last, said Knight, due to the number of people present. Word spread quickly through the small town, made clear by the amount of people using their cell phones while waiting in line for food, he said.

The organization of this distribution was obvious as the townspeople stood in single file line with their children. Ten at a time, the locals approached the LMTV. Each was given an armful of high-energy biscuits and a 1.5 liter bottle of water for every two people. However, once everyone in the town had cycled through, they were able to come back for seconds or even thirds.

Ten thousand biscuits were given out as well as 500 bottles of water, which will feed 500 people for four-and-a-half days, said Lt. Ben Wackerlin, a platoon leader with Team D.

Although the biscuits are a source of food for the locals, they still need the staples of their regular diet, said Knight. Within a few days the Red Falcons will provide 80 pound bags containing rice, beans and cooking oil, and will feed a family of five for two weeks. This allows the people to concentrate on other essential tasks, such as searching for work, rather than waiting in line for food every day.

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Story by Pfc. Kissta Feldner

Lt. Mark Heitzmann, a medical officer assigned to the amphibious dock landing ship USS Carter Hall, delivers a Haitian newborn at New Mission in Bonel. The multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan is on station in Haiti along with the amphibious dock landing ships USS Fort McHenry, USS Gunston Hall and USS Carter Hall as the Bataan Amphibious Relief Mission supporting Operation Unified Response, a joint operation providing military support capabilities to civil authorities to help stabilize and improve the situation in Haiti following a 7.0 magnitude earthquake that devastated the island nation on Jan. 12. (U.S. Navy photo/Petty Officer 2nd Class Sergio Hernandez/Released)

“I had no idea I would ever be doing anything like this in the Marine Corps,” said Lance Cpl. Drivenel Alfred, who was born in Port-de-Paix, Haiti. “It makes me feel great to have this opportunity to help both the Marine Corps and my people.”

Assessment teams have traveled to different towns throughout Haiti since the end of last week, looking for the same information in each location. The translators have to quickly speak with hundreds of locals to find out where hospitals, schools and city government buildings and officials are located, in addition to reassuring the masses that gather at every landing zone.

“I talk to the Haitian people, get the information we need to assess a location and ensure they know that we’re here to help them as best we can,” said Pfc. Rodney Gustave, field wireman, CLB-24, 24th MEU, and a Miami native of Haitian descent. “I just want to accomplish the mission and get as much information as possible so we can further assist them.”

For Cpl. Reginald Chery, tank mechanic, A. Company, Battalion Landing team 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 24th MEU, his mission is more than a job, its a homecoming, as he visited Saint Marc, the town of his birth.

“It felt really good to get in touch with friends of the family who I saw during the mission and make sure they were all safe,” Chery said. “It was all familiar, a lot of places I already knew, I felt like I could really help.”

Though all are excited to contribute to mission success and getting help where it is really needed, the realities of the destruction nationwide doesn’t escape them.

“Being there is kind of sad, but I focus on my job,” said Alfred. “Its hard, we see some heartbreaking things, but we still have to get the job done. That’s what Marines do.”

U.S. Marine Corps
By Gunnery Sgt. Robert Piper
24th MEU

A Navy Landing Craft Air Cushioned from Assault Craft Unit 4, amphibious assault ship USS Bataan, boards the ship Jan. 22, to load up with vehicles and supplies from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit to be used in the Operation Unified Response relief effort in Haiti. The landing craft allows 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit Marines to deliver heavy equipment and supplies faster and more efficiently than alternative landing craft. Cpl. Bobbie A. Curtis

From the USS Bataan Facebook page:

BATAAN-Conducted 470 pallet CONREP/ VERTREP with USNS Sacagawea; LCAC operations and flight ops iso CTF offload of 22 MEU CLB; 25 patients in medical.

Every Saturday on Bataan, the crew participates in Saturday Night Alive. SNA features musical performances, dancing, comedy and karaoke. It’s a great opportunity for the crew to gather in one location and spend time together. Tonight, we brought out a few recovering Haitian patients to watch, and some even performed. The faith and resolve we continue to witness is absolutely unbelievable. This is a lifechanger.

Earlier today: Bataan is conducting a vertical replenishment off the coast of Haiti with USNS Sacagawea. The crew is bringing on board 220 pallets of relief supplies from Project Handclasp, Operation Blessing and the American Red Cross, along with 272 Meals Ready to Eat.

GUNSTON HALL has established an unbelievable operation in Killick. They had 141 check-ins to clinic, and called in 8 medevacs for 29 patients. 5 day totals: 869 patients, 92 Medevacs carrying 347 critically injured patients. GUNSTON HALL delivered 4200 meals in Port Au Prince. Transferred 3700 boxes of food from Mexican ship Huasteca to Killick Delivered 20 cases of bottled water.

FORT MCHENRY Transported 48 Canadian sailors ashore and back at end of day for HMCS Athabaska Chaplain. 40 cleared debris from a collapsed housing site in New Mission. Conducted lillypad refueling ops for various medevac helos Supported ship-shore movement iso 22 MEU CLB offload Set up joint FT Mac/Carter Hall clinic with Doctors without Borders in Grand Goave. Medevac’d 5 critical patients plus two caretakers

CARTER HALL-Offloaded 22 MEU CLB to Grand Goave (9 MTVRs, 1 Forklift, 2 Water Trucks, various equipment, and 93 pax); Conducted VERTREP for stores; Directed all ship to shore movement as Primary Control Ship (PCS) for New Mission and Grande Goave beaches; Provided medical personnel for joint Carter Hall/FT Mac clinic established ivo Grand Goave. Departed area en route to GTMO