The Responder Feb12

Premier Issue THE RESPONDER Telling the Joint Task Force-Haiti story a ll t od u ty ca February 12, 2010 Seabees bring their ‘can do’, assist local MD’s By 2nd Lt. Victoria Brayton Special Operations Command South PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti -- Navy Seabees, deployed from Little Creek Amphib- ious Base, Va., built three tents Jan. 27 at the Quisqu- eya Christian School to help store medical supplies and provide more space for staffers sleep. Various non-governmental organizations have been living at the school compound since the Jan. 12 earthquake. Doctors and nurses from relief organizations also use the site as their starting point before going out to the various clinics in Haiti. CARREFOUR, Haiti -- Marine Sgt. Maj. Louis M. Espinal, SOUTHCOM and JTF-Hai- “These tents are so very, ti command senior enlisted advisor, visited the 22nd and 24th MEU’s, both of whom very appreciated,” said are providing humanitarian relief to the Haitian people affected by the Jan. 12 earth- Mary Dekoter, wife of quake. The Marines are helping to provide security at different food distribution points here Feb. 5. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Richard Andrade / XVIII Airborne Corps) Quisqueya’s elementary and middle school prin- cipal and a retired reg- Red Falcons return to Jammeau, build trust istered practical nurse. “It’s a very good setup By Pfc. Kissta Feldner 2nd BCT, 82nd Airborne Division for all of our supplies.” Prior to the tent construc- PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – Citi- tion, medical supplies were zens of the town of Jammeau, stored in the school’s cha- Haiti, filed past a U.S. Army Light pel. Moving the supplies Medium Tactical Vehicle, carry- out to the tents enabled the ing boxes full of water and food. chapel to be used to hold The smallest of the locals, unable classes again, she said. to hold all of their rations in their Dekoter has been volun- arms, carried them in their shirts. teering as a nurse at the These rations, high-energy biscuits school for the past four and bottled water, were being dis- years, but now she runs tributed by paratroopers assigned to the medical tents for all Team D, 1st Battalion, 325thAirborne of the NGOs and doctors. Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade The tents have electricity Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Divi- and air conditioning to help sion, a culmination of Soldiers from maintain the integrity of the different companies in the battalion. medicines they store. Inside Earlier this week, paratroop- Spc. Tommy Clark of Team D, 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry are thousands of different ers met with leaders of Jam- Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, hands medicines and equipment meau to establish good relations bottled water to a local Haitian woman Jan 29. This was the second food drop in Jammeau, Haiti, for the 1/325th AIR “Red Falcons.” Continued on page 6 Continued on page 6 (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Kissta Feldner 82nd Airborne Division)

TOP RESPONSE JTF-H Commander thanks team You have no doubt noticed our evolving mission here in Haiti. In the beginnning, we were focused for quick response to Haiti mission on opening the airfield and port so that critical Welcome to the first edition of the RESPOND- search and rescue teams and medical profession- ER. I asked our Public Affairs staff to publish als could arrive and render life saving aid. After this on-line newsletter periodically to keep you that phase, we shifted our priority to getting medi- informed midst the fluid environment that is JTF- cal care, water, and food out to the people most in Haiti. I hope you’ll find it useful, and I encourage need, to provide life saving aid. As we continue you to go-online whenever possible to stay abreast work in these critical areas, new priorities will of information relating to our critical mission here arise. Our mission remains focused on enabling in Haiti. Information is power, and I want each our government, through USAID, the United Na- of you to stay well informed on our mission, our tions, non-governmental organizations, and the milestones, and incredible progress on this historic Government of Haiti to deliver commodities and mission. Keen medical aid to the populace; to concurrently tran- First, I want to thank each and every member of our team -- ac- sition our efforts to capable partners when they are ready; and to tive, guard and reserve Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Coast plan a phased transition for redeployment as directed. Guardsmen and Civilians, and our counterparts in the State Dept, As for our “end of mission” - we don’t yet know when that will USAID, and Health and Human Services -- for the amazing prog- occur. We assess daily our force requirements to meet mission ress in easing the suffering and improving the lives of the Haitian demands, and adjust our force posture accordingly…several ca- people. This tragedy is one of epic proportions, and this relief op- pabilities have been off-ramped, others have redeployed, and still eration has been a true team effort in every sense of the word. others are pending decisions as we continue to make progress on It has now been one month since the eathquake, and the eyes of our objectives here in Haiti. Suffice to say, we will retain only the world have been focused squarely on Haiti and the work you the essential capability to meet our mission objectives, and “right are doing. The Haitian people have demonstrated their amazing size” in stride. resilience; as Ambassador Merten noted to the press recently, no There’s an old Haitian proverb that says many hands make light one should HAVE to be so resilient. work, and that is the focus of our efforts here - to support, assist Of course, the Haitian people have suffered greatly, but Ameri- and help the Government of Haiti, USAID, the UN and the various cans are not without our own losses in this tragedy. More than non-governmental profesionals who will remain in Haiti doing this 100 American citizens perished in the earthquake, and the tragedy important work for many years. Of course, we can’t do this alone. struck particularly close to home with the loss of USAF Lt Col We are all citizens of the same planet, and our partners in the UN (select) Ken Bourland, who died with several other Americans in and MINUSTAH, and international partners like Canada, Brazil, the collapse of the Hotel Montana. Spain, Mexico, Sri Lanka, and so many others are joined together Let us draw together in prayer and strength for the victims and in this monumental task. We are a global team in every sense of their families. We remain mindful of their loss, as we strive to the word. And we’re making a real difference. The USNS COM- pay tribute to their lives by carrying on in the face of adversity, FORT has become a global icon for expeditionary medicine, and and helping to ease the suffering of thousands in the wake of this we have helped provide food and water to literally millions of devastating event. Continued on page 6 JOINT TASK FORCE HAITI OFFERS CONDOLENCES FOR LOST TEAMMATE PORT-AU-PRINCE - U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. (Select) Kenneth Bourland’s remains were recovered from the ruins of the Hotel Montana in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Feb. 7 after more than three weeks of intensive search and rescue operations, un- der the direction of U.S. Southern Command and concurrent with ongoing Joint Task Force-Haiti’s humanitarian disaster relief operations. Bourland, 37, of Birmingham, Ala., accompanied U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Ken Keen, Deputy Commander of SOUTHCOM and Commanding General of Joint Task Force-Haiti, during a visit to Haiti Jan. 12 for official meetings with Haitian defense and security counterparts. “We extend our deepest condolences to the Bourland family; we will continue to keep them in our hearts and prayers” said Keen. “Ken was a great military officer and an invaluable member of our team; his loss has stricken us all deeply, and we collectively mourn with all who’ve been blessed to serve with such a consummate American Patriot. THE RESPONDER Telling the Joint Task Force-Haiti story ac al l to du ty The Responder is an electronic newsletter published every Wednesday and Saturday for the Soldiers, Sailors, Coast Guardsmen, Airmen and Marines of JTF-Haiti. Commander JTF-Haiti Lt. Gen. P. K. (Ken) Keen Responder Staff: The editor can be reached at The Responder Command Senior Enlisted Advisor JTF-Haiti Sgt. Maj. Louis M. Espinal Editor Sgt. Richard Andrade office located in the LSA Dragon Sustainment JTF-Haiti Public Affairs Officer Col. Billy J. Buckner Public Affairs Specialist Spc. A.M. LaVey tent, by phone: 797-7009 and or by email: JTF-Haiti Public Affairs Senior Enlisted Advisor Sgt. Maj. Sharon Opeka richard.andrade@us.army.mil This newspaper is an authorized publication for the members of Joint Task Foce-Haiti. Content of The Responder are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by the U.S. Government. or the Department of Defense. The Responder is an unofficial publication authorized by Army Regulation 360-1. Editorial content is prepared, edited and provided by the Public Affairs office of Joint Task Force-Haiti. The Responder is an electronic newsletter distributed by the JTF-H PAO. All photos are Department of Defense unless otherwise credited.

SAFETY Make traffic safety first point of performance By Mr. Jesse Martin right and stopping in the road, and JTF-H Safety Director others flap their left arm out the You may have noticed that the window to indicate that they will road conditions in Haiti are sig- be taking an unspecified action. nificantly different from those Drivers do not always verify that in the United States. Driving the road is clear before switch- in Haiti must be undertaken ing lanes, turning, or merging with extreme caution. There into traffic. Huge potholes may is neither a written nor a driv- occur without warning. This ing test required to qualify for a will also cause drivers to ex- driver’s license. Road laws are ecute unpredictable and danger- not generally known or applied. ous maneuvers in heavy traffic. The situation on the roads Many Haitian drivers can be can be described as chaotic quite aggressive and will sel- at best. Roads are generally dom yield. Walls built to the unmarked and signs indicat- A UN security forces soldier directs traffic in a busy street in edge of roads frequently make ing the direction of traffic Port-Au-Prince. Traffic is extremely congested in urban areas, it impossible to see around cor- flow seldom exist. Few roads and traffic jams develop quickly throughout the country. Feb. ners, forcing drivers to edge have lane indicators and driv- 9. (U.S. Army photo by Lt. Col. John ‘Jay’ Boyd/20th MHD) their cars into the road at inter- ers use whatever part of the road is open systems or in need of repair. Drivers should sections to check for oncoming traffic. Be to them, even if it is not the correct side be particularly cautious at night, as unlight- advised drinking and driving is illegal in of the road. Traffic is extremely congested ed vehicles can appear without warning. Haiti, but some local national frequently in urban areas, and hours-long traffic jams Signaling imminent actions is not widely drive after drinking, especially at night. develop quickly throughout the country. practiced, and not all drivers use turn indica- Remember, when driving in Haiti, do so Speed limits are seldom posted and are tors or international hand signals properly. defensively. Avoid confrontations, such as generally ignored. In many cases vehicles For instance, many drivers use their left jockeying for position and remain aware of are overloaded and lack adequate braking blinker for all actions, including turning all vechicles around you. Stay safe out there! Military postal service to begin in Haiti By Spc. A.M. LaVey has also been battle-tested as the former XVIII Airborne Corps chief of postal operations for the Iraq the- and the USPS to do what needs to be done PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti -- U.S. postal ater, before he retired from the Army. to get postal operations up and running,” inspectors have arrived here to conduct se- “This mission is a lot different said Lt. Col. Edward Allen, the chief of curity assessments and help prepare to set because the Haitian postal postal operations for JTF-H. up an Army post office, as well as to assist infrastructure is nonexistent,” said Nelson. There must be facilities and personnel with the restoration of mail service to the “Postal service was stopped because the to accomplish the mission. Transportation earthquake-ravaged country. main facility was destroyed - so there is needs to be secured and coordinated, postal “We have 30 days from the time we arrive currently no mail coming in or going out at Soldiers need to be in country, routes need in country to set up this time,” he said. “We are going to have to to be cleared, security measures must be in military mail service,” said build this Army post office from the ground place, unit mail clerks must be trained and Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Nelson, Joint Task up,” said Miller. the necessary equipment must be in place. Force-Haiti J-1 non-commissioned officer- Re-establishing postal services in Haiti “To get to the point where a Soldier can in-charge. requires close coordination with the De- receive mail here, we have to build the air- “The civilian postal inspectors partment of State, the U.S. Agency for In- mail terminal at the airport so that we can will determine what needs to be done be- ternational Development, and various com- receive the incoming mail,” said. Allen. fore we have an Army postal unit arrive,” ponents of the Department of Defense. “From there we take the mail, receive it, said Nelson. The process of setting up an Army post and sort it, so that the mail can be trans- According to a U.S. Postal Service press office is a joint effort between the Depart- ported to the units.” release, this experienced team of postal in- ment of Defense, the U.S. Postal Service, “The lack of postal infrastructure in Haiti spectors has sharpened their skills in the and the liaison between the two - the Mili- will make it difficult to meet the 30 days aftermath of such large-scale disasters as tary Postal Service Agency. guidance,” said Allen. “In the beginning Hurricane Katrina. “When they postal inspectors turn in their the post will be limited in scale to what can One of the inspectors, Kenneth Miller, report, the JTF-H will work with MPSA be sent and received.” Continued on page 6 3

22nd MEU Corpsmen bring smiles to Haiti By Cpl. Alan Addison 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit DANO, HAITI -- While the humanitarian aid and disaster relief efforts for the people of Haiti brought much needed supplies to Haitian residents, some earthquake victims are still in need of more than just food and water supplies. Corpsmen from Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Bat- talion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expedi- tionary Unit, treated injured and sick residents of Dano, Haiti, Jan. 28. After a reconnaissance team established a treatment location and all the medical equipment was prepared, corpsmen donned latex gloves and started their mission. Although the seriously injured are already evacu- ated, residents began to form long lines in order to receive attention from the staff. As the mission began, patients were placed in lines based on the severity of their injuries, after which each got the opportunity to sit down with a corpsman and discuss their ailment. Once each person was assessed, they received medicine along with instructions on when to take it. Corpsmen examined more than 60 patients, whose injuries ranged from serious infections to basic headaches. “Our mission is to come in and render medical support, not only in terms of patient care, but also medical supplies,” said Navy Lt. Matt Swartz, sur- geon for the BLT. “This is one of those things I’m thankful I got the chance to do, we get to help people out with Petty Officer 1st Class Simba Wallace, a hospitalman and lead- their basic needs. Some people just need a laugh and ing petty officer for Battalion Leading Team, 3rd Battalion, that’s what we’re here for, to help out,” said Petty 2nd Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, admin- Officer 1st Class Simba Wallace, a hospitalman and isters an IV to a Haitian woman during a medical mission in leading petty officer for the BLT. Dano, Haiti, Jan. 28. Throughout the mission, corpsmen treated This mission for the corpsmen differed slightly more than 60 patients with wounds ranging from serious infec- from others because of the surrounding environ- tions to headaches. (U.S. Marine photo by Cpl. Alan Addison) ment. Instead of operating in a small town, the corpsmen found “We brought what we thought we would need and now we’re themselves at the top of a small mountain in the midst of three running low, but our guys are doing the best service to the small homes. people as they can,” said Wallace. “I’m sad that we can’t stay “These are the places that seem to get forgotten,” said Wal- and I didn’t have an enormous amount of meds, but I think the lace. “As you can see, there are three homes and we’ve treated people we helped appreciated what we’ve done.” more than 60 people, this is what I like and I’m glad they found As the day drew to an end, local Haitians trickled away from a remote location to give these people some aid.” the site with bags of medicine and bandages putting a close on Some of the more junior corpsmen also got the opportunity a successful mission. Although the corpsmen couldn’t stay as to come out and lend a hand in the mission. long as they wanted or supply everyone with limitless medica- “It feels really good to be out here. This is my first time being tion, they worked hard to provide the locals with what they out and deployed, so it feels good to actually get out and help,” needed that day. said Petty Officer 3rd Class Neil Goldstein, a hospitalman and Petty Officer 1st Class Simba Wallace, a hospitalman and a BLT corpsman. “Seeing the smiles of the people gives you a leading petty officer for Battalion Leading Team, 3rd Battal- feeling that’s hard to express.” ion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, One by one, people trickled in and out of the treatment area administers an IV to a Haitian woman during a medical mis- in front of the middle home, after receiving whatever care they sion in Dano, Haiti, Jan. 28. Throughout the mission, corps- needed. As patients began to exit the triage location, so did the men treated more than 60 patients with wounds ranging from supplies. serious infections to headaches. 4

“Gold Falcons” distribute supplies throughout Haiti By Staff Sgt. John Seth Laughter 82nd Airborne Division PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – Millions of bottles of water, pallets of rations stretch- ing over an airport tarmac disappearing into the dusty haze, hundreds of trucks filled with bags of rice, a battle hardened U.S. Army Soldier on bended knee gently handing a day’s supply of food to a young girl, or massive earth moving machines carefully clearing the rubble of fallen buildings to reveal an earthquake survi- vor; these are the images seen each and every day in Haiti. But, none of this could be possible without a certain group of paratroopers working in the background, orchestrating the supply of this massive humanitarian aid and assistance mission, ensuring that the 2nd Brigade Combat Team has the equipment and aid supplies they need to reach out to the citizens of Spc. Vincent Valone a motor transport driver, A Company, 407th Brigade Sup- Haiti. port Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, guides the loading of storage contain- They are called the Gold Falcons, these ers filled with equipment and supplies on to a Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical paratroopers of the 407th Brigade Sup- Truck, Load Handling System containers shipped to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, from port Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, the United States, Feb. 6. The 407th provides precision supply and support for and their mission is often successfully the paratroopers of the 2nd BCT as they provide humanitarian aid and assistance completed without the fanfare and glory to the people of Haiti. (US Army Photo by Staff Sgt. John Seth Laughter) received by their brethren on the front various organizations working to bring traveled across Port-au-Prince to the lines. It is easy to forget that these front humanitarian aid to Haiti. Petionville Club where the 1st Squadron, line victories could not be possible without Up to 15 convoys depart each day to 73rd Cavalry Regiment has set up a for- the support of the Gold Falcons. different locations around Port-au-Prince ward operating base. In less than an hour, Each evening the leaders of the Gold and the surrounding countryside. “We ship that same convoy has delivered its load Falcons assemble in a small tent next to humanitarian and sustainment aid for the of food and water, and headed back to the the runway of the Haiti International Air- brigade, nongovernment organizations or airport. port to coordinate the any organization that Talking about this particular convoy, daily distribution to the “We are the first line. needs help,” stated Spc. Marco Marquez, motor transport 2BCT assets. “You de- Sgt. 1st Class Montrell operator, A Company, 407th BSB, said ploy with what you’ve We are the base on Kea, platoon sergeant, “We run two or three convoys to different got,” said Lt. Col. Matt which the humanitari- A Company, 407th locations every night and sometime they Shatzkin, commander, an aid mission is built” BSB. “We have the run into the day.” 407th BSB. “You have assets they need.” Its not only the challenges of transpor- to be like Lewis and -Capt. Albert Park Through the dark tation the Gold Falcons have to face, it Clark and find the right of night, navigating is also a myriad of logistical issues they equipment or contract to get the job done.” the twisted roads and byways of Port- must overcome. “We are structured for The small Haiti International Airport au-Prince, made less navigable by fallen a combat environment and geared for was the busiest airport in the world fol- buildings, the Gold Falcon convoys move self-sustainment,” Isengard said. “Now lowing the devastating earthquake, Jan. like they have been working here for years we have a whole country that needs food 12. Hundreds of civilian and military and not a few short weeks. We run the and water and we are trying to sustain the aircraft landed, disgorging their cargos majority of the supply missions at night, whole thing. It’s a whole different set of of Soldiers, equipment and supplies. Of Sgt. Walter Isengard, a motor transport op- logistical challenges.” course there was limited room on the erator, A Company, 407th BSB, said. The Food, water, humanitarian aid, medical tarmac for all this cargo. Using heavy curfew keeps the traffic down at night and supplies, vehicles, generators and a myriad vehicles, special lifting equipment, and we can operate faster and with less chance of other pieces of equipment or supplies 24-hour non-stop labor, the Gold Falcons of an accident in these crowded streets, he are delivered daily throughout Haiti and started organizing the supplies and deliver- continued. the surrounding countryside. In the non- ing them to the battalions of the 2BCT and In less than 30 minutes, a convoy has stop passing of convoys, the Gold Falcons 5

CONTINUATION Keen Red Falcons tainment Command (Expeditionary), Fort continued from page 2 continued from page 1 Hood, Texas, and should be on the ground said 1st Sgt. Brian Knight, first sergeant of within a week. people here. Every day is better than the D Company, 1/325th AIR, “Red Falcons.” The postal platoon, whose mission is day before. But much work remains to be Prior to this particular humanitarian aid to run a military post office and assist in done. There is no “quick fix” here - this distribution, they spent several days con- mail terminal and distribution facilities, mission requires dedication, hard work, ducting reconnaissance around the area will have 48 hours to set up the APO, said and above all, patience. Thanks for deliv- trying to find places affected by the earth- Miller. ering that daily as you set the standard for quake, said Spc. Austin Ibarra of Team “The middle of February is the target date all to emulate. D. This was the second humanitarian aid for postal operations to begin. The ground Lastly, take care of yourselves and each distribution the Red Falcons conducted for has already been broken on a military mail other. Stay in touch with your families. Use the town. This drop was more successful terminal and the troops are on their way,” social media like Facebook and Twitter to than the last, said Knight, due to the num- Miller said. let your friends back home know what your part is in this effort. And keep safety at the ber of people present. Word spread quickly Gold Falcons forefront of everything you do. through the small town, made clear by the continued from page 5 This mission is vitally important. You amount of people using their cell phones supply the tools necessary to keep the are each making history here in Haiti. On while waiting in line for food, he said. massive Haitian relief effort running. Even behalf of Americans everywhere, I thank The organization of this distribution as these paratroopers unload hundreds of you for your service, and I’m proud and was obvious as the townspeople stood in containers and vehicles from ships arriv- honored to serve with you. single file line with their children. Ten at ing at the port of Port-au-Prince the pace a time, the locals approached the LMTV. never slows. “We are the first line. We are LTG P.K. Keen, US Army Each was given an armful of high-energy the base on which the humanitarian aid Commander, JTF-Haiti biscuits and a 1.5 liter bottle of water for mission is built,” said Capt. Albert Park, every two people. However, once every- Seabees commander, B Company, 407th BSB. one in the town had cycled through, they continued from page 1 Shatzkin compares the challenges they were able to come back for seconds or are facing in Haiti with missions they have cines and equipment from dress- even thirds. been training for back at Fort Bragg, N.C. ings to orthotic supplies, Dekoter said. Ten thousand biscuits were given out as We trained on purifying water for mass When the school asked the Seabees if they well as 500 bottles of water, which will consumption at MacArthur Lake on Fort could build storage tents, saying yes was easy. feed 500 people for four-and-a-half days, Bragg, he said. But here in Haiti we have “Being presented with the opportunity said Lt. Ben Wackerlin, a platoon leader to adapt our skills in water treatment to to help these doctors was awesome,” with Team D. newly dug and pre-existing wells within said Petty Officer 2nd Class Andrew Although the biscuits are a source of the city. Kauffold, a construction electrician. food for the locals, they still need the “You have to find a way to make things “They’re the real heroes, you know.” staples of their regular diet, said Knight. work,” Shatzkin stated. Petty Officer 1st Class Phillip Brown, Within a few days the Red Falcons will No one notices when the Gold Falcons also a construction electrician, agreed provide 80 pound bags containing rice, are operating at full capacity, supplying that helping out the doctors and school beans and cooking oil, and will feed a the humanitarian aid work in Haiti. With- managers was exactly what Seabees do. family of five for two weeks. This allows out fail the 2nd BCT paratroopers and the “Whatever we can do to add to the relief the people to concentrate on other es- aid workers have the supplies they need to effort and make life easier for these peo- sential tasks, such as searching for work, continue on with their mission. “If we are ple, that’s what we’ll strive to do,” he said. rather than waiting in line for food every doing everything right, no one notices.” “We’re in the business of customer day. Shatzkin said. “We are behind the scenes service. Whatever is needed, we give it. When the rations ran out for the day, the making the soldier successful.” As long as we’ve got the materials and the Soldiers promised the locals they would It is the precision download, delivery tools, we can build it.” be back soon with more. and distribution capabilities of the Gold In addition to setting up the two medi- Postal Service Falcons that make the efforts of the 2nd cal storage tents and one berthing tent, the continued from page 3 BCT and its partners successful. “We work Seabees have regularly checked in to see if so everyone doesn’t have to look over The Soldiers tasked with setting up the they can offer any other services. their shoulders wondering where their sup- JTF-H Army Post Office are from the “They’re so helpful and polite, we’re well plies are,” Shatzkin said. “They can focus 502nd Postal Platoon, 502nd Human Re- cared for,” Dekoter said. on the mission at hand, whether that’s the sources Company, Brigade Troops Battal- ion, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 13th Sus- fight or the humanitarian mission here in Haiti.” 6

POSTCARD FROM HAITI Servicemembers and staff of Joint Task Force-Haiti enjoy watching the Super Bowl on a projection screen at Logistics Support Area Dragon. Soldiers from the XVIII Airborne Corps, 82nd Airborne Division among others, along with Airmen from Pope Air Force Base joined with Families of servicemembers helped to pack boxes of fruit, sodas and chips for the Haiti-deployed servicemembers to enjoy. Feb. 7. (US Army photo by Sgt. Richard Andrade / XVIII Airborne Corps) Servicemembers at LSA Dragon enjoy Super Bowl By Sgt. Richard Andrade XVIII Airborne Corps “I think it was a good experience, hon- our family and friends,” said Spc. Dannie PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti -- The Super estly I didn’t think we would be able to do Jones, a motor transport operator, also of Bowl is an American institution, right next that here,” said Marine Cpl. Jerry Vandyk, Co. C. “This boosted our morale up, I am to Uncle Sam and Mom’s apple pie. Many an artilleryman with Company B, 1st Bat- happy they put this together for us.” people watch the annual game in the com- talion, 10th Marine Regiment, 24th Marine “There was a lot of effort over the last fort of their homes or at sports bars. For Expeditionary Unit. week to bring it all together,” said Lt. Col. servicemembers deployed to more austere “It boosted our morale a lot, he said. Peyton Potts, chief of current operations parts of the world - it is a much anticipated “This is my third deployment, and I have for JTF-H and XVIII Airborne Corps. Potts treat. never done anything like this” was instrumental in coordinating 11 other According to Peter Schwartz, of Forbes “This has been the highlight of the Haiti sites in Haiti where servicemembers got a magazine, Super Bowl Sunday and New mission, our morale went up, it was a good chance to enjoy the Super Bowl with chips Year's Eve are the two biggest party days in night,” said Army Pvt. Ricardo Frias of and soda. the United States. The New Orleans Saints' Company C, Headquarters and Headquar- “It was a fantastic set up,” said Potts. victory over Indianapolis in the Super ters Battalion, XVIII Airborne Corps. Soldiers from the XVIII Airborne Corps, Bowl was watched by more than 106 mil- Army Pvt. James Chvala a combat engi- 82nd Airborne Division among others, lion people, surpassing the 1983 finale of neer, also with Co. C, said that the Super along with Airmen from Pope Air Force "M-A-S-H" to become the most-watched Bowl event was one the greatest things Base joined with Families of servicemem- program in U.S. television history, accord- done at LSA Dragon and was a real morale bers helped to pack boxes of fruit, sodas ing to the Nielsen ratings. booster. and chips for the Haiti-deployed service- At Logistics Support Area Dragon, where When asked about his mission in Haiti, members to enjoy. many servicemembers work and live, a Chvala said, “Everything that we are doing “I think this was a great break for ev- projection screen was set up, and snacks, here is for a great cause, and I am glad to erybody after all of their hard work,” said donated by the USO North Carolina, Wal- still be here, doing my part.” Potts. “They have worked really hard the mart and other vendors, were passed out The Super Bowl was “a big morale push- last couple of weeks trying to help get this and enjoyed by all. er, especially with us being away from country back on its feet.” 7

The Responder Feb12

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The Responder Feb12 — Document Transcript