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22nd MEU delivers aid to Haiti's southern coast

US Marine Corps News

1/22/2010
By 22nd MEU Public Affairs, 22nd MEU

Marines and sailors from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit delivered some of the first relief supplies residents of Cotes de Fer, Haiti, have seen since a major earthquake rocked the country more than one week ago.

CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron

461 (Reinforced) delivered a company of Marines and provisions to distribute to residents living in make-shift shelters. Marines were greeted with smiles as they handed out water and nutrition bars to the residents.

"It's about getting the supplies to the people that need them," said 1st Lt. Kevin Stuart, executive officer for Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 22nd MEU. "Some people can't come and get it and some are not in the big cities where the aid centers are. The challenging part is getting the food and water to the people who really need it the most."

The distribution point was established for the day in Cotes de Fer. The Marines from Weapons Company were extracted back to USS Bataan in the afternoon. Cotes de Fer is the second distribution point opened by the Marines from the 22nd MEU in three days. The first location in Leogane, Haiti, west of the capitol of Port-au-Prince, was opened Jan. 19, 2010, just four days after the 22nd MEU and the Bataan Amphibious Assault Group deployed to join the relief.

Since arriving, the MEU has helped distribute 15,502 pounds of rations,

37,098 gallons of water and 50 gallons of fuel. Fifteen Haitians have also been treated ashore by Combat Logistics Battalion 22 medical personnel.

The ships of the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and embarked elements of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit arrived off the coast of Haiti Monday to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief for earthquake survivors and bolster relief operations already underway in support of Operation Unified Response.

This sea-based force will bring added capabilities to aid relief efforts without taxing the already strained infrastructure ashore. Comprised of heavy-lift and utility helicopters, trucks and humvees, assault amphibian vehicles and logistics capabilities to include water purification and limited medical support, the 22nd MEU will further enhance humanitarian relief efforts ashore.

The 22nd MEU is a multi-mission-capable force comprised of Aviation Combat Element, Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 461 (Reinforced); Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; and its command element.

In addition to Bataan, the Amphibious Ready Mission also includes USS Carter Hall (LSD 50), USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43), USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44) and detachments from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 22, Helicopter Mine Countermeasure Squadron (HM) 15, Tactical Air Control Squadron (TACRON) 21, Fleet Surgical Team (FST) 8, Assault Craft Unit

(ACU) 4 and Beachmaster Unit (BMU) 2.