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CTF-41 visits Carter Hall

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS100207-04
Release Date: 2/7/2010 4:22:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW) Hendrick L. Dickson, Navy Public Affairs Support Element, Norfolk

ABOARD USS CARTER HALL , Caribbean Sea (NNS) -- Rear Adm. David M. Thomas, commander, Task Force (CTF) 41, visited the crew of USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) Feb. 4 while the ship was conducting operations off the coast of Haiti in support of Operation Unified Response.

As commander, CTF-41, Thomas is in charge of naval forces in the region providing humanitarian support and aid to the people of Haiti, after the 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck the island nation Jan. 12.

During his visit, Thomas toured the ship with Commanding Officer Cmdr. George Doyon and personally thanked the crew for their hard work. Thomas told the crew that the Navy and the United States recognize their efforts and that the crew has given a "heartbeat" to the country of Haiti.

The visit reminded the Carter Hall Sailors of the significance of their mission.

"He reinforced the importance of Carter Hall," said Operations Specialist 3rd Class Tyler Eisenhauer. "We have a flight deck, well deck, and a lot of storage capacity, pretty much every thing you need to distribute aid ashore. We're the exact type of ship needed for this mission."

USS Carter Hall has had a tremendous impact on Operation Unified Response. Since arriving on station Jan. 18, the crew has delivered more than 1,100 pallets of water and food rations as well as 6,000 cots and 326 tents to earthquake victims. Additionally, more than 150 Sailors have supported medical and relief operations on the ground.

"We are here to be a beacon of hope for the Haitian people," said Doyon. "There is still plenty of work to be done and Carter Hall will be here until the mission is complete."

USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) is part of the Bataan Amphibious Relief Mission. The multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) is on station in Haiti with the amphibious dock landing ships USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43), USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44), and Carter Hall supporting Operation Unified Response, a joint humanitarian assistance mission to Haiti following the 7.0 magnitude that devastated the island country.