THE RESPONDER Vol. I, Issue 4 Telling the Joint Task Force-Haiti story February 24, 2010 a call to duty Navy teaches Haitians critical medical skills By MC2 Chelsea Kennedy USNS Comfort PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti -- Sailors embarked on the hospi- tal ship USNS Comfort provid- ed physical therapy assistance and subject-matter expert ad- vice to medical staff members at St. Damien Hospital here Feb. 19. Comfort also visited the hospi- tal to assess the medical needs of the facility and to assist recovering victims suffering from injuries resulting from last month’s earthquake. “We started sending people ashore when the need [for physical therapy] on board the ship decreased,” said Cmdr. Deborah Carr, the physical therapy division officer aboard Petty Officer 3rd Class Brittany Saulsberry, a hospital corpsman, comforts a young boy before he Comfort. receives medical treatment Feb. 20 aboard the hospital ship USNS Comfort. The boy was brought She went on to say that if those aboard for treatment of a cancerous infection in his eye and a variety of other life-threatening condi- who have received treatment tions. Comfort is currently in Haiti supporting Operation Unified Response as a sea-based hospital with the mission of preventing loss of life, limb or eyesight. (U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Matthew Jackson) Continued on page 6 Military compensates Haitians for claims during operation

By Senior Airman Andria J. Allmond — leave a country’s people and their be- U.S. Southern Command longings intact upon the U.S. military‘s departure. Its goal is to maintain friendly PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – The U.S. relations through the prompt settlement of military forces in Haiti are compensating meritorious claims. The FCA is only valid individuals for valid accidents or incidents on foreign ground and has a combat exclu- sustained by inhabitants or their property sion. This means, it is only applicable to caused by the U.S. military or Department inhabitants of a foreign country and is not of Defense civilians and contractors during applied to incidents or accidents occurring Operation Unified Response, which began from combat operations. Jan. 13. “Being that Operation Unified Response “We recognized a long time ago that when in Haiti is a humanitarian effort, there’s we’re on foreign soil, we sometimes break little chance of combat exclusion,” said U.S. Army Capt. Fred Ingram, Joint Task things,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jack Ohl- U.S. Army Capt. Fred Ingram, JTF-H op- Force-Haiti operational law attorney and weiler, Joint Task Force-Haiti deputy staff erational law attorney, comprising the one- Foreign Claims Commission at the U.S. judge advocate. “It’s important that when embassy, oversees the settlement paid to man Foreign Claims Commission at the we do leave this theater, we help to leave a Haitian mother for her 16-year old son, U.S. embassy, Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and the people whole.” Feb. 14. Payment must be overseen by a charged with investigating each claim. parent or guardian if the recipient is un- Passed in 1942 when the U.S. was pre- “From day one, of us arriving in theater, if der 21 years old, the legal age of adult- paring to enter World War II, the Foreign hood in Haiti.(U.S. Army photo by Senior Claims Act, was created to do just that ­ Continued on page 7 Airman Andria J. Allmond / SOUTHCOM) Italians, Brazilians join forces to provide humanitarian relief By Col. Billy J. Buckner XVIII Airborne Corps

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Although less publicized, nearly 1,000 Sailors and Soldiers from the Italian aircraft carrier, ITS Ca- vour, arrived here Jan. 31 joining 30 other nations in providing humanitarian relief to the Haitian people. The more than 35 doctors and nurses, to including medical pro- fessionals from the Brazilian military and the volunteers that man the ships hospital, have treated approximately 350 patents and per- formed more than 35 surgeries since their arrival. Currently the hospital has 15 patients on board, mostly children, who are receiving orthopedic and pediatrics care. The Cavour is the first carrier of its class in the Italian navy and was designed with state-of-the-art equipment and command and control systems. The ship even comes equipped with a hyperbaric chamber used to treat acute and chronic conditions. “We are happy to be involved in this mission,” said Master Chief Petucco Dario, the ships radio chief. “For what we are doing, it Lt. Gen. Ken Keen, commander, Joint Task Force-Haiti, and Marine is great.” Sgt. Maj. Louis M. Espinal, command senior enlisted advisor, Joint About 250 Soldiers assigned to the ship are working from a Task Force – Haiti, receive a brief from an Italian diver about the hyperbaric chamber used to treat acute and chronic dive injuries. forward operating base on shore where they are assisting with (U.S. Army photo by Col. Billy J. Buckner XVIII Airborne Corps) Continued on page 7

JTF-Haiti awaits final World Food Program requirements By Spc. A. M. LaVey Kane. “We anticipate that when they kick responsibility of distribution and forward- XVIII Airborne Corps off this next phase of a structured feeding looking planning elements, the need for program Mar. 1, that there will be very lit- military assistance has been progressively PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – The World tle required from the JTF-H.” declining. Food Program has ended the interim stage The JTF-H, currently with about 12,800 “We are waiting to find out the final re- of its food distribution program here Feb. American servicemembers in Haiti, has quirements from the World Food Program, 20. been sharing the responsibility for the se- but initial planning states that the specific “Over 19 million pounds of bulk food ra- curity of the food distribution points with need from the JTF-H are significantly less tions have been given out to about 2 million the U.N. security forces. than what we had provided in the first and Haitians thus far,” said Col. Gregory Kane, “They have always been in the lead but we interim phases,” said Kane. director of operations, JTF-H. “These are have been augmenting them,” said Kane. In the initial phase of the food distribution 14-day rations to families so that they don’t “Though humanitarian assistance and di- program the JTF-H assisted with the secu- have to worry about food day-to-day. It has saster relief is not what the U.N. forces are rity of all the sites. In the second portion of been a very successful program.” here for, they have been stepping up their this phase, the JTF-H provided security at The international community and non- support for these kinds of missions.” four points. In the next stage, further reduc- governmental organizations, working with All but one of the distribution points were tions are expected. JTF-H, are fairly practiced by now and they jointly manned with security elements from The JTF-H has also been working with completed the most recent stage of the pro- both the U.N. and the JTF-H. the U.N., through the International Organi- gram, mostly without any issues - logistical “We have been helping by secure cer- zation for Migration, to assist the people of or otherwise. tain distribution points that are outside the Haiti, who have been displaced from their “There were some glitches but the U.N., U.N.’s ability or those which have exceed- homes, with their need for shelter, especial- World Food Program and the NGO’s have ed their capacity,” said Kane. ly as the rainy season approaches. been very adaptive and quick to find them With civilian agencies, NGO’s, and the and provide solutions to overcome,” said government of Haiti picking up more of the Continued on page 7

The Responder is an electronic newsletter published every Wednesday and Saturday THE RESPONDER for the Soldiers, Sailors, Coast Guardsmen, Airmen and Marines of JTF-Haiti. Telling the Joint Task Force-Haiti story a call to duty Commander JTF-Haiti Lt. Gen. P. K. (Ken) Keen Responder Staff: The editor can be reached at The Responder Command Senior Enlisted Advisor JTF-Haiti Sgt. Maj. Louis M. Espinal Editor Sgt. Richard Andrade office located in the LSA Dragon sustainment

JTF-Haiti Public Affairs Officer Col. Billy J. Buckner Public Affairs Specialist Spc. A.M. LaVey tent, by phone: 797-7009 and or by email: JTF-Haiti Public Affairs Senior Enlisted Advisor Sgt. Maj. Sharon Opeka [email protected] This newspaper is an authorized publication for the members of Joint Task Force-Haiti. Content of The Responder are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by the U.S. Government. or the Department of Defense. The Responder is an unofficial publication authorized by Army Regulation 360-1. Editorial content is prepared, edited and provided by the Public Affairs office of Joint Task Force-Haiti. The Responder is an electronic newsletter distributed by the JTF-H PAO. All photos are Department of Defense unless otherwise credited. CHAPLAIN’S CORNER Haiti, UN, Joint Task Force discuss “Congress shall make no law es- issues relating to debris removal tablishing a religion nor restrict- ing the free exercise thereof” ~1st Amendment to The Constitution

It sometimes seems strange to other countries how Americans use our chaplains. But we Americans recognize that those who serve in defense, support, and advancement of our freedoms should not be re- quired to give up practice of their own religious traditions in order to defend America’s basic principles. In other words, if our country sends us away from home to serve, then our country has an obligation to provide the same opportunities that service members had at home to exercise their form of worship. To that end: Brig. Gen. Nicolas E. Matern, deputy commanding general - humanitarian assis- tance, Joint Task Force-Haiti, addresses members of the debris management task - The Joint Task Force - Haiti made force. Members of the Government of Haiti met with members of the U.S. and Ca- a point of bringing an army Catholic nadian armies and non-governmental agencies to discuss the future of rubble re- chaplain to Haiti for the needs of over moval Feb. 21. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Richard Andrade / XVIII Airborne Corps) 25 percent of the force. He roves the entire JTF-H area of operations saying By Sgt. Richard Andrade “I have never been involved in a hu- XVIII Airborne Corps Mass fifteen times per week, hearing manitarian mission that included the U.N. confessions, and providing counsel. and NGO’s, something this complex, this PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – Members of He offered Ash Wednesday services multi-dimensional, I don’t think that there the Government of Haiti met with mem- for eight days to ensure Catholics have been many examples in history,” said bers of the U.S. and Canadian armies and and other christians could observe Fernandez. non-governmental agencies to discuss the the beginning of Lent, the season in “It’s historic because it’s one of the first future of rubble removal Feb.21. preparation for the paschal season . time where you have various types of non- Brig. Gen. Nicolas E. Matern, deputy - The JTF-H chaplain, a non-de- governmental organizations, military, civil- commanding general-humanitarian assis- nominational Christian, arranged ian, local officials,” said Fernandez. tance, Joint Task Force-Haiti, said he was for Friday Jewish Shabbat ser- “The purpose of this meeting is to address unaware how complex this debris manage- vices in the Embassy compound. the safety of certain camps that are critical ment task force was going to be, but re- Several other Christian chaplains for the regional areas, for cleaning the sew- mained optimistic. spent more than two days track- age canal before the rainy season that be- “It requires a lot of coordination, it re- ing down the JTF-H’s cache of ko- gins in April,” said Fernandez. quires a lot of understanding,” said Matern sher MREs for a Jewish serviceman “Identifying sites where the debris is go- of the mission ahead. wanting to observe his ordinances. ing to be put and recycle the pieces that can The task ahead Matern said, “is going - One of our Muslim servicemen be recycled, processed and put to good use to get harder, he said of the undertaking wanted to join in Friday afternoon at a later date.” ahead of them, “it is important to remain juma prayers. The Catholic chaplain, “The debris management task force start- focused.” as a matter of course, drove him to the ed a week ago to define objectives, to cre- “The international community is realiz- Jordanian compound and picked him ate independent sub-groups that are work- ing that the military has certain things that up after they shared a communal meal. ing on various aspects of the problems I’ve it can bring to the table, namely resources, The legal basis for the Chaplaincy de- mentioned,” he said. planning capabilities,” said Matern. rives directly from our founding doc- “It makes it a bit difficult at times because “The Government of Haiti is a critical uments and the very ideas of freedom we don’t all speak the same language but component,” Matern said of Haitian gov- cherished by Americans. And wheth- given the urgency and given the great need, ernment’s participation, “they are most er one personally believes in God or we will try to make things move nonethe- helpful, vectoring us in the locations where not – religious freedom and worship less.” we will have the most impact.” is fundamental to being American, “What we are trying to do here is to take The cooperation between the agancies, no matter where we serve on earth. advantage of the momentum of aid and help armies and the Government of Haiti has not that Haiti is getting, to try to get some of Ch. (Lt. Col.) Matthew Pawlikowski been seen and is thought of as historic by these problems that we can address on the JTF-H Catholic chaplain Canadian army Capt. Jose Fernandez. short term to be solved,” said Fernandez.

3 US , Haitian coast guards share unique partnership By Lt. Gene Maestas U.S. Coast Guard District Seven

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti -- The people in Port-au-Prince could see the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Forward on the horizon at dawn the morning after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake devastated the infrastructure of Port Au Prince and killed thousands after the earth shook violently late Tuesday af- ternoon on January 12, 2010. The Forward was the first Coast Guard asset to arrive on scene and was soon fol- lowed by a Coast Guard C-130 airplane from Clearwater, Fla., to help provide as- sessments of the damage. The Coast Guard Cutters Mohawk and Tahoma arrived the next day. The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Oak A small boat crew from the Coast Guard Cutter Legare and a Haitian coast guard pa- trol boat crew conduct a joint maritime security patrol of Port-Au-Prince Jan. 26, 2010. anxiously awaited orders to deploy to Haiti Ensign Brian Field and Seaman Tim Fox were embarked on the Haitian coast guard to assist their friends and colleagues at the patrol boat to support their efforts. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Ensign Brian Dykens) Coast Guard base in Killick. “We developed a trusting, working relationship with the Haitian program also offers an opportunity for Haitian coast guard mem- coast guard,” said Cmdr. Michael W. Glander, commanding offi- bers to receive additional training at the Coast Guard Training cer, CGC Oak. The crew of the Oak has made several trips to Haiti Center in Yorktown, Va. and the Leadership School at the U.S. to train with them since 2007. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn. “It’s a professional exchange that includes engineering and medi- Lambert Jean Rosemond, the chief of operations at the Haitian cal training,” added Glander. The Haitian coast guard exchange Continued on page 8 Safety

malaria-infected mosquito. When a mos- Dengue fever transmission is usually By Mr. Jesse Martin quito bites an infected person, it ingests seasonal, during and shortly after the rainy JTF-H Safety microscopic malaria parasites found in the season and the risk of infection is highest person’s blood. The malaria parasite must near urban centers. Day-flying mosquitoes We have had four confirmed cases of grow in the mosquito for a week or more transmit dengue fever. malaria! before infection can be passed to another Symptoms include high fever, severe head- Before you read this article, have you person. aches, joint and muscle pain, nausea/vom- taken your Doxy? Applied insect repellent If, after a week, the mosquito then bites iting, and rash. The rash may appear three to your skin and clothes? Is your area clean, another person, the parasites go from the to four after the onset of fever. Infection is organized and free of standing water? Have mosquito’s mouth into the person’s blood. diagnosed by a blood test that detects the you also ensured your battle-buddy/wing- The parasites then travel to the person’s presence of the virus or antibodies. The ill- man/shipmate has also? liver, enter the liver’s cells, grow and mul- ness may last up to ten days, but complete There are two main types of vector-borne tiply. During this time when the parasites recovery can take two to four weeks. diseases we should be concerned with in are in the liver, the person has not yet felt Preventive counter measures include: Haiti -- malaria and dengue fever. Ma- sick. keeping exposed skin covered, wearing in- laria is a serious, sometimes fatal, disease The parasites leave the liver and enter red sect repellent, using a product that contains caused by a parasite. Haiti has the highest blood cells in as little as eight days or up to 20 to 50 percent DEET and sleeping under malaria case rate among the West Indies. several months. Once inside the red blood a Permethrin-treated bed net. Night flying mosquitoes carry malaria. cells, the parasites grow and multiply. The These will greatly reduce your chances of Once infected, symptoms begin 10 days to red blood cells burst, freeing the parasites becoming infected with malaria or dengue four weeks after infection, although a per- to attack other red blood cells. fever. In addition to the above preventive son may feel ill as early as eight days or up Toxins from the parasite are then re- measures, taking your daily antibiotics will to one year later. leased into the blood, making the person greatly reduce your chances of contacting Humans get malaria from the bite of a feel sick. malaria. 4 Marines, Navy unite returning injured Haitian girl home

Sgt. Jarrell Williams, platoon sergeant, Combat Cargo, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, carries 14-year-old Lydie Au- gustin across the flight deck aboard USS Nassau and into a Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 162 (Reinforced) MV- 22 Osprey in which she was flown back to her village of Grande Saliene, Haiti, to be reunited with her family and friends, Feb. 1. Lydie was brought aboard USS Nassau a week prior in order to receive emergency medical care of her wounds which she received during the devastating earthquake in Haiti, Jan. 12. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. David J. Beall)

By Lance Cpl. David J. Beall local's needs were being met, and find peo- Once on the ship, Lydie went straight to 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit ple like Lydie who were in need of medical the operating room where the lacerations care. were cleaned and stitched. GRANDE SALIENE, Haiti — Just two Locals informed the Marines that Ly- In the following days she received antibi- weeks ago, 14-year-old Lydie Augustin die was hurt as soon as they arrived. The otic treatments and made some new friends was suffering from two severe, untreated Marines, and Navy medical personnel ac- as she and her father spent nearly a week lacerations caused by bricks that fell on companying them, realized she needed aboard ship to recover and get healthy. her leg that were shook loose from a build- help, and fast.With the lack of medical care Although she was away from her home ing during the Jan. 12, earthquake. She re- needed to treat her wounds in the area, the and in an unfamiliar place, with people she turned to Grand Saliene in better health and team was worried about infection and pos- had never seen before, the medical staff high spirits Feb. 2. sible loss of her leg, or even death. The aboard USS Nassau did an amazing job Men, women, and children sprinted down team wasted no time and requested a medi- giving her everything she needed and more the rutted dirt roads flailing their arms into cal evacuation using a helicopter to bring and making both her and her father feel at the sky, with glowing smiles and shouts of her and her father back to USS Nassau. home. joy as her private ride – an MV-22 tilt-rotor "I was extremely happy that my daugh- "The people here have treated us great, aircraft – landed to bring Lydie and her fa- ter was going to get the help she needed, they have made us feel very comfortable," ther home. as a father, it was like thank you Jesus for said Petero referring to the servicemembers When an assessment team of Marines and this savior," said Petero Augustin, Lydie's who cared for his daughter. Sailors landed in the village of Grande Sa- father who stayed with his daughter aboard "I am going to explain all of our experi- liene, Jan. 25, their mission was to survey the ship. "After God is the Americans," he ences to my family and friends when we any earthquake damage, determine if the said. get home."

5 Sailors work together while treating a young boy in the casualty receiving area of the Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort Feb. 20. The boy, who the staff aboard has taken to calling Johnnie D, is believed to be an orphan. He was brought aboard for treatment of a cancerous infection in his eye and a variety of other life-threatening conditions. Comfort is currently in Haiti supporting Operation Unified Response as a sea-based hospital with the mission of preventing loss of life, limb or eyesight. (U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Matthew Jackson)

Navy Without the knowledge that these Sailors Continued from page 1 are providing, many of the patients would not understand what is required of them to don’t perform physical therapy “The joints maintain their mobility for the future. can freeze to the point where a person will “We gave handouts for the exercises that not have a functional range of motion in they need to maintain or improve their their joints.” strength, or amputation care for those who In addition to working with the patients have lost limbs,” said Hospital Corpsman at the hospital, Comfort sailors shared their 2nd Class James Abbington. “We are teach- valuable knowledge with the hospital staff ing patients to help themselves by showing and clinic workers. them how to wrap their own amputations “The Sailors are doing a little bit of [phys- and check for infections.” ical therapy] work with patients,” Carr said. Physical therapy is a key factor in the “They are also working with some of the recovery process for orthopedic and ampu- civilian facilities to help them learn things tation surgeries. It ensures that patients do that they can do to help.” not get atrophy from sitting or lying down Many of the doctors, technicians and for extended periods of time. nurses working at the after care facilities do “Most of them just need to start walk- not have personnel specialized in providing ing again so they can function in everyday USNS Comfort Sailor Lt. Toinette Evans em- physical therapy. life,” Abbington said. braces a young child in the pediatric ward “We’re not going to be able to turn them With proper physical therapy techniques of St. Damien Hospital in Port-au-Prince, all into physical therapy technicians,” Carr Haiti. Sailors embarked aboard Comfort patients can shorten their recovery time visited the local hospital to assess medical said. dramatically, have much better muscle needs of the facility and assist recovering “Using every little tool they have in the tool function, and livelife with a greater sense patients with their rehabilitation process. box to help the patients is a good thing.” of normality. (U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Chelsea Kennedy) 6 CONTINUATION Compensation method attempts to protect the individual picked up about 70 Brazilian civilian doc- Continued from page 1 or family receiving the money. tors and nurses and military health profes- “We don’t want to put these people in sionals who were integrated into the task we caused damaged, we’ll compensate the harms way by having other people see us force’s mission. In addition, two Brazilian individual appropriately.” putting cash into their hands, “ said U.S. helicopters were loaded on to the carrier. Currently, there are approximately 40 Marine Corps Lt. Col. Dan Kazmier, Besides performing their normal duties, claims being tracked with 25 incidents be- JTF-H staff judge advocate. “We’ve put many of the crew members volunteer to go ing investigated for settlement. together a great team to go out and do this. into the towns to help repair and fix items The process for compensation occurs in We even have [U.S. Army Lt. Col. Frantz for residents. three steps. Vitale] to help us translate and ease any “Everyone wants to help,” said Dario. First, if the FCC is available, he will go to apprehension the Creole-speaking Haitian This morning we went into town to help the site and begin the investigation -- tak- may have while we are in the process of make repairs to the museum.” ing pictures, talking to people, gathering paying them.” Capt. Gianluigi Reversi, the command- evidence and taking statements. If the FCC Aside from the ability to speak the native ing officer of the Cavour, commented that is unable to travel to the location of the al- tongue, Vital brings his homestation expe- servicemembers of the task force are pro- leged accident, the claiming party is given rience into the process. viding assistance to all people who have a paper containing contact information, “As a litigation attorney, I’m used to serious problems and require special treat- along with the address and date to meet mediating and negotiating with opposing ment. with the FCC. sides,” said Vital, JTF-H legal assistance The Cavour set sail for Haiti Jan 19 from Second, if the investigation proves the chief and originally from Haiti. “Generally, La Spezia, Italy. This is the first mission case is invalid, the claim is denied. If the I advocate for the claimant party. Here, I for the carrier and its crew. claim proves warranted, the FCC deter- am negotiating for the government. There- Asked when they will depart Haiti, Re- mines a fair amount of compensation. He fore, in my position, I am familiar with versi said, they would remain on station as conducts research, sometimes calling upon both sides.” long as directed by the Government of Ita- local physicians or contractors, to assist Kazmier said Vital facilitates the pro- ly. “We are here to help restart the regular in determining the monetary value of the cess significantly with his experience and lives of the Haitian people. It is an interna- damage based upon local standards. strengths, making it run smoothly for both tional cooperation,” said Reversi. “We have to assess the value of the dam- sides. Food Program age or injury, which can be difficult since Along with Ingram as the responsible Continued from page 2 this is not a mature theater,” said Ingram. FCC and Vitale as the Creole-translating “Proving someone has ownership of a ve- international affairs agent, the team boasts hicle or house for example, doesn’t always Ohlweiler, also an FCC, and Sgt. 1st Class “The IOM is going through and assessing mean they have the paperwork to confirm Matthew Nelson, JTF-H human resources what the equipments are and if they need it. Sometimes, it involves going into the senior noncommissioned officer in-charge, assistance of the JTF-H distributing tents or neighborhoods and asking the individual’s serving the role as pay agent. shelters they will make that request,” said neighbors what belongs to whom. Com- “Before we even got boots-on-ground, we Kane. “We have assisted them by handing pensating someone for lost wages due to knew that this was something we’d have to out tarps and transporting shelters.” injury may involve finding the person who confront right away,” said Ingram. Because of the U.S. military’s inimi- treated them, wherever that treatment was “Our military not only wants to help the table abilities, “we were able to respond rendered, and then contacting civil affairs Haitians rebuild their country from the dev- quickly, assisting with manpower, medical to determine the value of their daily labor. astation caused by the earthquake, we also assistance, and rotary wing aircraft,” said We end up doing a lot of research, as well want to help maintain what these resilient Kane. as consulting with the locals, to measure people still have. If members of the JTF-H “Over the ensuing 41 days we have seen how much things are worth.” damage something, it’s our responsibility an increased capacity of NGO distributing Lastly, the offer is made to the claimant. to make things right.” their own goods, we’ve seen the port come “We make them the offer,” said Captain In- back and the airport arise from chaos to re- gram. “We’re not trying to do any injustice Italians open.” here; we do what’s fair in our own estima- Continued from page 2 “We still have some unique capabilities tion.” that we provide, that the international com- The Army captain said thus far, the of- rubble removal, cleaning streets, repairing munity doesn’t, so we will provide those as fers have proven agreeable to the claiming churches and schools and working with required,” said Kane. “We will remain here parties. 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne as long as the Haitian government needs Paying the affected party is done privately Division Soldiers and non-governmental us and wants us to be here, and as long as by a four-person squad near U.S. embassy agencies in the area. there is a mission here to be performed,” grounds or at the recipient‘s home. This Prior to arriving in Haiti, the Cavour said Kane.

7 POSTCARD FROM HAITI

Helpful hand

CARREFOUR, Haiti -- A young man receives a bag of rice from a distribution point set up by the United Nations and is guarded by both U.N. and U.S. forces, both of whom are providing humanitarian relief to the Haitian peo- ple affected by the Jan. 12 earthquake. Various (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Richard Andrade / XVIII Airborne Corps)

Coast Guard tion by the Coast Guard liaison officer in Defense program Project Hand Clasp. Continued from page 4 Haiti, Cmdr. Evan Grant. Lambert said The following day the Oak headed to Mi- Grant was at the Killick base around 5 ami to take on medical supplies provided coast guard base in Killick, has attended p.m. the afternoon the earthquake hit and by the Coast Guard clinic and 12,800 bot- several training missions in the United worked until 7 a.m. the next morning. tles of water donated by Pepsi. Two Coast States and has the plaques and certificates According to Lambert, Grant began pro- Guard Creole speaking interpreters also lining the wall in his office that this. One viding medical treatment to the crowds of joined the crew in Miami. of his most significant achievements was injured who came to the base looking for The following day the crew of the Oak completing Officer Candidate School in help. arrived in Haiti and caught up with the 1999. The next day, the Tahoma embarked a crew of the Tahoma to provide medical as- Lambert said, “The United States govern- team to the Killick base and also provided sistance for the injured at the Haitian coast ment has provided a lot of support to the medical assistance to the injured who were guard base in Killick. Haitian coast guard.” seeking help. Lambert indicated there “The crew said this is the most rewarding To this date, 80 Haitian coast guard mem- were hundreds of people who came to the thing they have ever done,” said Glander. bers have studied in the United States. The base looking for help. He told his crew to The crew of Tahoma also helped to estab- Haitian coast guardsmen also train with the take care of their families first - and then to lish a landing field so helicopters could crew of the Oak as least twice a year and come back to work. evacuate the seriously injured to the USNS were making preparations for their next On the evening of the earthquake, the Comfort and other locations for treatment. training opportunity. crew of the Oak began making prepara- The assistance to the Haitian coast guard Two Oak crewmen were already in Haiti tions to deploy to Haiti. The next day they is greatly appreciated by the Haitian coast making assessments to determine areas of left their homeport of Charleston, S.C., and guard crew. focus for their next professional exchange headed to Jacksonville, Fla. to load equip- “It is a pleasure to work with the US when the earthquake hit. ment for aids-to-navigation work and relief Coast Guard and we will continue, we are The crewmen were found in good condi- supplies provided by the Department of family,” Lambert added. 8