Multi-Service mission provides relief to Haiti

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Chad Padgett
  • 436th AW Public Affairs
MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. --  American efforts to provide humanitarian aid and assistance to Haiti following the Jan. 12 earthquake highlight the multi-Service cooperation that is the hallmark of the U.S. military.

A recent mission found a C-17 from Travis Air Force Base, Calif., crossing the country to load safe drinking water, emergency vehicles, pallets of cargo and Soldiers from the 82nd Airborne onboard, before flying to Haiti.

"We're doing humanitarian aid. Anything we need to do to help out the people of Haiti," said Army Sgt. David Golbran. "I like how everyone came together to help these people in their time of need."

With all the relief efforts currently underway in Haiti, aircraft spend as little time as possible on the ground to make room for other aircraft flying in. As soon as the C-17 landed there was a buzz of activity and more than 90 tons of equipment and supplies were unloaded. The entire process took less than 45 minutes and then the aircraft was on the runway preparing for takeoff.

"This is our third mission to Haiti," said Senior Airman Stewart Stangl, a member of the 21st Airlift Squadron from Travis. "Each trip we bring nearly 90 tons of relief cargo to the country."

The mission is not always just dropping off desperately needed supplies; sometimes it involves brining evacuees back to the United States. On the previous mission, the C-17 crew brought evacuees to McGuire AFB, N.J.

"It's really cool to be doing something where you can see an immediate result," said Capt. Chris Ross, 21st AS pilot. "We picked up 96 people and evacuated them out. To see the smiles on their faces when we were wheels up in the air was a pretty good feeling."