Airborne Troops Provide First Glimpse of Relief

By Fred W. Baker III of American Forces Press Service   TOUSSAINT LOUVERTURE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Port-au-Prince, Haiti : Hundreds of 82nd Airborne Division troops from Fort Bragg, N.C., arrived here overnight in the first wave of putting a substantial U.S. military relief effort in place in the wake of this week's devastating earthquake. Troops from the 82nd Airborne Division arrive at the Haiti International Airport after an early morning flight Jan. 16, 2009. As many as 3,500 troops are expected to arrive here in the next few days to begin security the areas for aid drop-off. DoD photo by Fred W. Baker III (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. As many as 3,500 soldiers are expected to be on the ground here in just a few short days, as the military finds itself caught somewhere in the middle of finding its feet and moving out to help the tens of thousands left with nothing after the Jan. 12 earthquake. Air Force C-17s started hauling troops and equipment from the 1st Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment yesterday, with the rest of the 800 or so soldiers from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team being delivered by ongoing flights through the night. The planes were packed making use of every square inch of space. Soldiers stacked in with military vehicles, water and other equipment and supplies. With the airport here maxed out on its ability to manage the number of flights coming in and out, officials wanted to waste neither time or space. "Air planes are stacked up the 'wazoo' up there trying to get down here," one colonel said just before his troops exited the C17. The military flights were delayed somewhat yesterday simply because of the limited capacity of the airport. It is, however, running 24-hour operations with flights coming in from around the world as nations reach out to one of the globe's poorest countries. Army Maj. Larry Jordan, with 1st Squadron, 73rd Infantry Regiment, was on the ground yesterday surveying where the incoming troops would go. Most of the troops here were sleeping under the stars. A handful of tents were scattered about. For the most part there is no running water or electricity. Right  now, the troops are tasked with paving the way for the massive amounts of humanitarian aid coming to reach the communities safely. They provide airport security and a detachment watches over the embassy. Locals waved at the military helicopters flying over the city today. Acres of tin-roofed shanties were flattened. Toward the mountains, closer to the main impact of the quake, larger buildings had collapsed. Most of the houses are built near or connected to each other so entire blocks were collectively crushed. "The devastation is absolutely amazing," Jordan said. Many survivors have set up camps out in the open football-field sized areas. Brightly-colored tarps provide cover for them and the few personal items they were able to recover from the wreckage. Still, Jordan said that he did not see a lot of crime or looting in the neighborhoods he visited. He also said several Haitian police, both local and national, out in the streets. "It was not the wild, wild west. There were not gangs of lawless machete wielders running around all over the place," he said. Jordan did see a lot of locals trying to continue clearing the buildings, removing rubble, and cleaning the streets. In some of the places he was the first uniformed personnel, providing a sense of hope for relief, Jordan said. Today, the troops are moving out into forward operating bases in the city. Once their bases are established they will begin moving into the cities to help set up the security to deliver humanitarian aid, officials said.

Troops from the 82nd Airborne Division wait at the Haiti International Airport after an early morning flight Jan. 16, 2009. As many as 3,500 troops are expected to arrive here in the next few days to begin security the areas for aid drop-off. DoD photo by Fred W. Baker III Download screen-resolution Download high-resolution Soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division stack supplies Jan. 16, 2009 that will be delivered to the forward operating bases within the city of Port-au-Prince. No room was spared in the aircraft as they packed them with troops and supplies. DoD photo by Fred W. Baker III Download screen-resolution Download high-resolution 011610-D-1852B-179 Soldiers run toward helicopters that will carry them to forward operating bases within Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Jan. 16, 2009. As many as 3,500 82nd Airborne Division troops are expected to be dispersed around the city in the next few days. DoD photo by Fred W. Baker III Download screen-resolution Download high-resolution Army Lt. Col. Lisa Garcia, with the XVIIIth Airborne Corps, talks with other senior leaders while she waits to deploy from Fort Bragg, N.C. Jan. 15, 2009. The corps deployed the 2nd Brigaded Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, to support relief efforts in Haiti. DoD photo by Fred W. Baker III Download screen-resolution Download high-resolution Troops from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C., watch the sun come up over the Haiti International Airport Jan. 16, 2009. Most of the 800 or so troops that came in overnight slept under the stars and began moving out to forward operating bases as the morning progressed. DoD photo by Fred W. Baker III Download screen-resolution Download high-resolution