Sailors deliver an injured American citizen to USS Carl Vinson's (CVN 70) Health Services department for medical care. USS Carl Vinson and Carrier Air Wing 17 are conducting humanitarian and disaster relief operations in Haiti in response to the recent earthquake disaster. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Adrian White)

Vinson Helicopters Perform Medical Evacuations

U.S. Navy helicopters operating from the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) rescued two American citizens in Port-au-Prince, Haiti Jan. 15.

An SH-60 Sea Hawk helicopter, from the “Tridents” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 9 responded to a MEDEVAC call from the Air Force 23rd Special Tactics Squadron. An Air Force pararescueman (PR) on the scene had just freed a man from the rubble of the Hotel Montana, but his legs below the knee were lost. The helicopter’s aircrew airlifted the man to USS Carl Vinson for emergency medical care. Vinson doctors treated his injuries. The man is in stable condition in the ship’s medical ward.

Carl Vinson responded to a second distress call a couple of hours later, sending an MH-60 Knighthawk from the “Chargers” of HSC-26 to evacuate an American woman. The woman, a 55-year old Christian missionary, said a wall collapsed on top of her when the earthquake struck. She is also in stable condition, undergoing further evaluation by Navy doctors aboard the carrier.

“It looks as though our aircrews may have saved lives,” said Rear. Adm. Ted Branch, Commander of the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group and Task Force 41, the U.S. Navy’s sea-based humanitarian support mission of Haiti.

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Marines Embark on Haiti Response Mission
By Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, American Forces Press Service

The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) will bring a multi-mission capability to Haiti to provide disaster relief and, if necessary, security assistance, a spokesman for the unit said during a telephone news conference Jan. 15 from Camp Lejeune, N.C.

The Marines expect to provide direct support for the ongoing relief efforts there, although they haven’t been given a specific mission yet. But they’re well prepared for any number of challenges, said Marine Corps Capt. Clark Carpenter.

“We foresee this mission as however our assets can best be applied to the situation,” said Carpenter. “We will be able to support any number of things that will be asked of us. I think the key is to get down there and figure out how our assets are going to best support the mission.”

B-roll of 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit amphibious assault vehicles being driven across Onslow Beach aboard Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The AAVs have embarked aboard the USS Gunston Hall to go to Haiti for disaster relief. Produced by Staff Sgt. Jayson Price. Haiti relief

Carpenter said the 22nd MEU is well suited for this type of operation because of its amphibious capability – supplies, aid, equipment and manpower can be moved by sea and air. And while the infrastructure in Haiti already is under stress, the Marines can base their operations from the sea, getting their food, water and shelter from ships rather than tapping into the limited supplies ashore, he added.

“We don’t know if we’re going to sea-base or not, [but it] reduces the strain on an already strained infrastructure,” he explained. “We have a great flexibility from those ships. We can sea-base, push people to shore and run operations.”

The force is deploying aboard three Navy ships – USS Bataan (LHD 5), USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) and USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43) – with CH-35 Chinook and UH-1 Huey helicopters. They’re leaving their tanks and artillery equipment at home for this deployment, but will bring additional trucks and earth-moving equipment, the captain said.

Also, the 22nd MEU will deploy with additional French- and Creole-speaking interpreters, public affairs specialists and possibly more medical personnel and engineers from other Marine units. Carpenter praised the support the 22nd MEU has been given from fellow Marine units at Camp Lejeune and throughout the Marine Corps.

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Marine Assault Amphibian Vehicles Join Haiti Relief Mission
Story by Master Sgt. Keith Milks

Long before the sun crested the horizon over the Atlantic Ocean, Marines from the 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, were plowing through the surf toward waiting amphibious assault ships to join the Marine contingent heading to Haiti, Jan. 16.

An assault amphibian vehicle splashes through the surf of Onslow Beach on Camp Lejeune, N.C., Jan. 16. A platoon of AAVs left Camp Lejeune in the pre-dawn hours to join the 22nd Marine Expeditionary embarked aboard the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group as it prepares to deploy to the Caribbean island nation of Haiti to provide sea-based disaster relief and humanitarian assistance in the wake of an earthquake that devestated the country on Jan. 12. Photo by Master Sgt. Keith Milks

The platoon of vehicles crossed Onslow Beach in pairs to embark aboard the USS Gunston Hall, a recent addition to the amphibious ready group carrying the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit to Haiti. In addition to the Gunston Hall, the USS Bataan, Carter Hall and Fort McHenry spent two days embarking the personnel, vehicles and equipment of the 22nd MEU at the port in Morehead City, N.C.

The amphibious assault ships and the embarked MEU were ordered to deploy to Haiti to support ongoing disaster relief and humanitarian assistance efforts in Haiti, which was ravaged by a massive earthquake, Jan. 12. The AAVs give the MEU commander the option of delivering supplies and personnel ashore from offshore shipping, and enhances the unit’s ability to provide much-needed humanitarian assistance to the Haitian people.

The 22nd MEU consists of its Command Element; Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; Combat Logistics Battalion 22; and Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 461 (Reinforced).

The embarkation of the AAVs is among the final steps before the ships and embarked MEU can set sail for Haiti for a humanitarian mission expected to last at least 30 days.

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B-roll of U.S. citizens boarding a Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules fixed-wing aircraft in Port-au-Prince, Haiti to return to the United States. Scenes include passengers walking to the aircraft and boarding. Produced by Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Mariana O’Leary, Seventh Coast Guard District Public Affairs – Miami. Haiti relief

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B-roll of a Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules fixed-wing aircraft crew transporting U.S. citizens from Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Scenes include passengers walking through the cargo bay of the aircraft after boarding. Produced by Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Mariana O’Leary, Seventh Coast Guard District Public Affairs – Miami. Haiti relief

U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Daniel Wilburn guides U.S. personnel affected by the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti to a waiting HC-130 Hercules aircraft in Port-Au-Prince Haiti, Jan. 13, 2010. The evacuation is part of the U.S. government's continued humanitarian assistance and disaster response efforts. Coast Guard personnel from Air Station Clearwater in Florida evacuated nearly 140 U.S. personnel from Haiti. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Mariana O'Leary

About 2,000 Marines from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit at Camp Lejeune, N.C., are preparing to deploy to provide disaster-relief support in earthquake-ravaged Haiti.

The Marines will begin loading equipment on three Navy ships – USS Bataan, USS Carter Hall and USS Fort McHenry — tomorrow, a process Marine Capt. Clark Carpenter, the 22nd MEU public affairs officer, said he expects to take two days.

The unit is tailoring itself for the support mission ahead, with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 461 from New River, N.C., as its aviation element, providing eight CH-35 helicopters. Four UH-1 Huey helicopters also will deploy with the MEU.

Carpenter said it’s not yet clear what role the Marines will play – lift support, disaster assistance, security support, or a combination of all three – so it’s preparing for whatever it’s asked to do.

“The great thing about a Marine expeditionary unit is that we train to do all of those things,” he said. “We are an extremely flexible organization, and we train to many missions during our pre-deployment work-up period, a six-month-long period when we train for humanitarian relief and disaster recovery operations just like this one.”

The 22nd MEU returned Dec. 5 from a seven-month deployment to the U.S. Central Command area of operations. It sailed through U.S. European Command, serving as its theater reserve force and conducting training missions in Bulgaria and Greece. From there, the Marines transited through the Suez Canal to the 5th Fleet area of operations, serving as Centcom’s theater reserve force. In addition to exercising with Middle Eastern partners, the MEU supported the Bright Star exercise in Egypt and delivered the first 10 Osprey helicopters into Afghanistan.

Upon getting word at 3 a.m. yesterday of the upcoming Haiti mission, 22nd MEU officials began recalling unit members, and they conducted the first crisis action team planning session six hours later, Carpenter said.

“So we have been prudently planning the embarkation of the ships,” Carpenter said. “Right now, the focus is to expeditiously and safely embark these ships and get the equipment we need aboard. We are tailoring a very flexible package to ensure we can accommodate broad requests, because we don’t exactly know the specifics of what we will be doing right now.”

The Haiti mission offers another opportunity for the MEU to demonstrate its flexibility and readiness, Carpenter said.

“Marines stand ready to support any mission that may be asked of them,” he said. “We are exceptional warriors when we are asked to be warriors. But equally important, we are exceptionally compassionate when we need to be compassionate. And these roles we can do equally as well.

“So it’s a great opportunity to highlight the compassion that the United States Marines and United States Navy have and can offer to those in need around the world,” he said.

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

Coast Guard Update

The U.S. Coast Guard, the first Department of Homeland Security agency to provide assistance to Haiti following Tuesday’s earthquake, continues to provide support Wednesday to the U.S. Government’s humanitarian assistance and disaster response efforts.The aircrew of a Coast Guard H-60 Jayhawk helicopter medically evacuated four, critically injured U.S. citizens from the U.S. Embassy Wednesday morning and a second medevac of five people was conducted Wednesday afternoon.  The injured were transported to the U.S. Naval Hospital in Guantanomo Bay, Cuba.  Two Coast Guard C-130s are scheduled to arrive Wednesday evening with the ability to evacuate up to 140 personnel to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.  Two other Coast Guard C-130s from Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., are being prepositioned to Air Station Miami to support the relief efforts.  Among the pending aircraft missions for Coast Guard aircraft is an airlift to Haiti from the U.S. of two Urban Search and Rescue Teams which is being coordinated through U.S. Southern Command.

The Coast Guard Cutter Forward arrived in the waters off Port Au Prince, Haiti, at about 8 a.m., Wednesday and together with Maritime Intelligence Support Team 0410, was able to assess some of the damage caused to the Port Au Prince port.  Coast Guard personnel observed multiple oil and fuel spills as well as possible sewage spills in the area of the port,  about one to one and a half miles from the coast.  They also reported seeing multiple small fires along the shoreline and significant damage to or destruction of infrastructure at the port.

Damage to port infrastructure is reported to include the port’s container crane and other cargo cranes.  Some of the cranes are reported to be completely submerged and others appear damaged but the extent of the damage cannot yet be fully determined.

Overflights of Haiti conducted by two, Coast Guard C-130 aircraft from Air Station St. Petersburg, Fla., revealed much less observable damage along the Northern shore of Haiti than in the area surrounding Port Au Prince.  To view Coast guard video from the overflight click here or go to http://cgvi.uscg.mil/media/main.php?g2_itemId=744801.  To view photos from the overflight and other relief efforts click here or visit http://cgvi.uscg.mil/media/main.php?g2_itemId=77427.

The Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk also arrived in the coastal waters of Haiti Wednesday afternoon.

The Coast Guard Cutters Tahoma and Valiant are slated arrive in Haitian waters Thursday.  The Tahoma is loaded with relief supplies for earthquake survivors.

“When the sun came up this morning in Port au Prince there was a Coast Guard cutter off-shore providing command and control, assessing the situation, providing situational awareness,” said Adm. Thad Allen, U.S. Coast Guard Commandant.  “So within 24 to 36 hours we had three cutters with the capacity to support hundreds if not thousands,” said Allen.

Allen made these remarks during the opening minutes of an address today at the Surface Naval Association conference.  Click here for to see video of Allen’s remarks or go to http://coastguard.dodlive.mil/index.php/2010/01/video-admiral-allen-on-haiti-earthquake-and-relief/.

“We encourage the American people to donate what funds they can afford to disaster relief organizations such as the American Red Cross to allow voluntary relief groups to provide goods and services to disaster survivors in Haiti as quickly as possible,” said Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.

The Coast Guard Cutter Valiant is a 210-foot medium endurance cutter homeported in Miami, Fla.

The Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk, a 270-foot medium endurance cutter, is homeported in Key West, Fla.

The Coast Guard Cutter Tahoma is a 270-foot medium endurance cutter homeported in Portsmouth, N.H.

The Coast Guard Cutter Forward, a 270-foot medium endurance cutter, is  homeported in Portsmouth, Va.

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Massive US Navy surge for Haiti relief

USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) has been ordered to deploy to Haiti to conduct Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Response (HA/DR) missions Jan. 13. Currently, Vinson is underway in the Atlantic Ocean, and will briefly loiter off the coast of Mayport to receive equipment and supplies.

Along with Vinson, USS Bataan (LHD 5) embarked with Marines from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU 22), USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43), and USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) were ordered to get underway as soon as possible. Additionally, USS Normandy (CG 60), USS Underwood (FFG 36) and USS John L. Hall (FFG 32) will deploy from their homeports and stand ready to assist, while USNS Comfort (T-AH-20), homeported in Baltimore, Md., is preparing to get underway, if required.

A Navy P-3 Orion aircraft from the Patrol Squadron (VP) 26 detachment operating from Cooperative Security Location (CSL) Comalapa, El Salvador, took off early this morning to conduct aerial surveys of the area affected by the earthquake.

USS Higgins (DDG 76) based out of Naval Station San Diego will arrive on station off the coast of Haiti tomorrow to provide afloat logistical services for the Coast Guard helicopters.

Additionally, various units are prepared to provide assistance with sea-based helicopters, to include H-53 Sea Stallions and H-60 Seahawks.

As the Navy component command of U.S. Southern Command, NAVSO’s mission is to direct U.S. Naval forces operating in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions and interact with partner nation navies within the maritime environment. Routine operations include counter-illicit trafficking, theater security cooperation, military-to-military interaction and bilateral and multinational training.

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Nations send aid and personnel to Haiti

– Brazil’s Ministry of Defense ordered its U.N. troops in the country to offer whatever assistance they can, Brazil’s official news agency reported.

– China is preparing to send a 50-member rescue team, including three sniffer dogs, the official news agency Xinhua reported. China has 125 peacekeeping police in Haiti, Xinhua reported.

– Spain is sending three planeloads of aid — two from Panama in Central America and one from Madrid, the Spanish capital, CNN affiliate CNN+ reported. Spain is also making 3 million euros ($4.35 million) available for aid and will coordinate the European Union response.

– France, Haiti’s former colonial ruler, dispatched two planeloads of rescue personnel, one from Guadeloupe in the Caribbean and one from Marseilles, France.

– Russia is sending a mobile hospital with a staff of 45, including 20 doctors, Emergency Situations Ministry spokeswoman Elena Chernova told CNN. The mobile hospital “has intensive therapy, surgery, diagnostics, ultra-sound, X-ray, electrocardiogram modules as well as a blood test laboratory,” and can accommodate 50 patients at a time, Chernova said.

– Cuba sent an additional 30 doctors, plus medical supplies, to join the 344 doctors and paramedics it already had working in Haiti on humanitarian missions, said Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez.

– Iceland is sending a 37-man search-and-rescue team and offered to help evacuate foreign nationals, its foreign ministry said.

– Canada has a five-man team already in Haiti as part of the U.N. relief efforts there.

– The United Kingdom and Israel also pledged to send survey teams.

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Air Force Special Ops deploy to Haiti

Officials from the 1st Special Operations Wing here deployed two MC-130H Combat Talon IIs from the 15th Special Operations Squadron and one MC-130P Combat Shadow from the 9th Special Operations Squadron Jan. 13 in support of humanitarian operations in Haiti.

The aircraft carried medical personnel, a fly-away security team, and a special tactics team composed of combat controllers, special operations weathermen and pararescuemen.

Further support from 23rd Air Force, 27th Special Operations Wing, Air Force Special Operations Command, the 1st SOW and the Air Force Reserve’s 919th Special Operations Wing at Duke Field, Fla., will deploy as necessary.

Marley Gevanthor is a volunteer with Project Hope, working in conjunction with Africa Partnership Station. Pvt. Valerie McCants of the 64th Medical Battalion give a puppy a dose of de-worming medication to protect the animal from intestinal parasites. APS is a U.S. Naval Forces Europe-led initiative, executed by a multi-national staff aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43) and High Speed Vessel Swift (HSV 2).

Africa Partnership Station (APS) brings members of the 64th Medical Battalion and Project Hope to help control the rabies virus in the local pet population, March. 24.

Beginning this morning, Capt. Brian Smith and Pvt. Valerie McCants, with the help of Marley Gevanthor, an Emergency Room Nurse from San Francisco General Hospital volunteering with Project Hope, began administering a combination vaccine to dogs and cats and a host of other animals belonging to locals.

Project Hope is a Non Government Organization (NGO) working in conjunction with APS in order to bring medical supplies and services to those in need in West and Central African countries.

“This project will only cover a small percentage of the population due to the limited number of doses. We are working with the Ministry of Agriculture and Health to arrange funding and assistance to broaden the rabies program here to allow for wider coverage of animals that will receive the rabies vaccine,” said Smith.

In addition to protecting against rabies, the vaccine also protects the animals from rhinovirus, respiratory virus, herpes virus, and intestinal virus. To further protect the pets they were given de-worming medication as well. The de-wormer is important because it kills parasites that can be transferred to humans.

“It’s wonderful to be able to take my skills and use them in a different discipline,” said Gevanthor. “They’re all little patients and we’re helping to keep them healthy.”

By the end of the day the trio had administered 100 doses of the vaccine with another clinic scheduled for tomorrow.

“I wish I could do more, Liberia has a large need, especially with rabies,” added Smith. “Rabies is very prevalent in the dog population here and I’m glad that I’m able to do a little bit to help, hopefully I can arrange to do more in the future.”

Part of the U.S. Navy’s Global Fleet Station, APS provides a platform with the capacity and persistent presence to support sustained, focused training and collaboration on a regional scale to maritime partners in West and Central Africa.

Commander Task Force 365 and training teams from various U.S. and European military commands, as well as governmental and non-governmental organizations are embarked on board Fort McHenry to enhance cooperative partnerships.

DVIDS
By Petty Officer 1st Class Brian A. Goyak
Africa Partnership Station Public Affairs