North Carolina Guardsmen contribute to Haiti earthquake relief

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Stephen J. Collier
  • 302nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MUNIZ AIR BASE, Puerto RIco --  After deploying approximately 50 Airmen here, the North Carolina Air National Guard flew their first flight Jan. 31 into Port-au-Prince, Haiti, as part of continued earthquake relief support to that island nation.

The Charlotte, N.C.-based Airmen from the North Carolina ANG's 145th Airlift Wing flew into Port-au-Prince delivering perimeter security supplies to be used to help beef up airport security as well as defenses for the U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne already on the ground in Haiti.

The addition of the 145th AW to Air Expeditionary Force Coronet Oak at Muniz is part of a regularly-scheduled rotation to support missions based out of Puerto Rico. The Guardsmen are expected to be based in the Caribbean for the next two weeks under the 35th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, the organization charged with executing AEF Coronet Oak missions.

Capt. Rick Wright, a C-130 Hercules pilot and aircraft commander for the first flight, recalled after landing at Pope Air Force Base, N.C. earlier in the day to pick up relief cargo, they were requested to hold over Haitian airspace as landing lights at Port-au-Prince's Toussaint Louverture International Airport were out temporarily. However, the captain said his crew eventually was able to land, deliver the security supplies and head back to Puerto Rico to begin planning for the next mission.

"Once our members found their mission in Puerto Rico would be supporting earthquake relief, they were ready to do their part," said Captain Wright, a Columbia, S.C. native. "It was an honor to represent the 145th AW into Port-au-Prince for the first time. Everybody on the crew was mission oriented and just wanted to get the job done."

Master Sgt. Robert Bartlett, the loadmaster on board the North Carolina C-130, said it's always a rewarding job to help out with missions like this.

"I'm an aircrew member on a C-130," Sergeant Bartlett, a native of Mooresville, N.C. said. "We resupply troops in forward operating locations with everything they need to sleep, eat and sustain themselves. But when it comes to these types of missions like Haiti, helping out individuals, it's something that would make anyone feel good to help out someone they don't even know."

In the end, Captain Wright said he and his crew were just glad to be able to do their part.

To date, the 35th EAS has flown more than 354 hours, completed 61 missions, moved more than 365 tons of cargo and airlifted 141 evacuees.