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"Condors" Provide Disaster Relief in Haiti

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080912-10
Release Date: 9/12/2008 5:21:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Emmitt J. Hawks, Continuing Promise 2008 Public Affairs

USS KEARSARGE, At Sea (NNS) -- Pilots from Marine Heavy Helicopter (HMH) Squadron 464, embarked aboard USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) are providing disaster relief support to citizens after the onslaught of several tropical storms and hurricanes during August and September.

Suffering from massive flooding after tropical storms Fay, Gustav and Hanna, Haiti faced even more devastation as Hurricane Ike passed over the northern part of the country causing the destruction of homes, bridges and roads.

On Sept. 5, U.S. Southern Command directed Commander, 4th Fleet to divert Kearsarge from its humanitarian/civic assistance mission, Continuing Promise (CP) 2008 in Colombia, to assist in the relief efforts in Haiti following destruction.

The capabilities of the HMH 464 crew include the fast movement of personnel and cargo by helicopter, making them the ideal group to support urgent humanitarian relief missions.

"These people have been hit very hard by hurricanes," said Chief Warrant Officer Jeff Desjardins, aircrew chief, as he handed children candy through a fence after the working party dropped off bags of rice and boxes of cooking oil.

"We are bringing food and water to the communities who have been literally cut off from the rest of the country. After massive mud slides and flooding from torrential rain, transportation routes have been washed away or destroyed."

Based out of Marine Corps Air Station, Jacksonville, N.C., HMH 464 was specifically chosen for the CP mission for its ability to carry large amounts of cargo and passengers at one time.

"The CH-53E has three engines that have a total of 4,000 shaft horsepower apiece. Burning 20,000 to 25,000 pounds of fuel a day." said Pfc. Kelvin Espinal, an aviation electronics technician for HMH.

"It has the capability of carrying up to 30,000 pounds, seats 24 passengers, two pilots, and three crewmen and the capability of carrying 15,000 pounds of fuel, but due to fuel usage and safety reasons we normally fly with 14,000 pounds of fuel at a time."

The squadron has been flying into Port-au-Prince airport to pick up relief supplies the past two days. After cargo is unloaded, the helicopters return to Port-au-Prince where they work with military personnel from Kearsarge and local citizens to load the helicopters before flying out again to deliver supplies.
Since arriving on scene Sept. 7, the pilots have flown 58 missions into the most devastated regions.

"We are providing a very important service," said Sgt. Shawn Edgar. "I have been loading and unloading this life-giving cargo for two days, and on day three, I am still going. When tragedy strikes back home we all pitch in, pull together and pull through a crisis.

"I am being of service; we are on a humanitarian mission. When the people of Haiti called, America answered."

Kearsarge is in the Caribbean for phase two of Continuing Promise 2008, a humanitarian assistance mission that includes assisting partner nations impacted by natural disasters and other emergencies resulting in human suffering or danger to human lives.

For more news about Continuing Promise, visit www.navy.mil/local/cusns/.