U.S. Army paratroopers leave from Pope Air Force Base, N.C., Jan. 14, 2010, to support recovery efforts in Haiti following a devastating earthquake. The paratroopers are assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division's 1st Battaltion, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team. Image: U.S. Army Sgt. Shelman Spencer
Streams of U.S. paratroopers board w/ med supplies, to a region of instability, heavy aftershocks, and potential disease; carrying necessary med supplies.
Jan 14 (Reuters) - The U.S. military is mobilizing thousands of soldiers, sailors and Marines along w/ members of the Air Force & Coast Guard for relief efforts in Haiti. Here are the main military components announced so far:
WHO'S THERE ALREADY?
* The vast majority of the forces announced for Haiti have not yet arrived, but the military has flown in hundreds of rescuers and has advance teams and assessment teams on the ground. Air Force special forces were among the first military relief workers to arrive.
Mil friend says that Bush & Clinton are working w/ Pentagon.
Air Force Evaluates Damaged Haitian Airports.
The Coast Guard has deployed four ships as well as air support for evacuation efforts. The Navy destroyer USS Higgins, with about 320 sailors on board, arrived on Thursday... Note: A Majority of US citizens who survived the quake, have decided to stay & help with rescue efforts...
MORE THAN 5,000 MARINES, SOLDIERS
Article: Phil Stewart/Cynthia Osterman
* Up to 3,500 soldiers from the U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg will be deployed in Haiti by Sunday. An advance group of about 125 troops were due to arrive on Thursday and 800 more will arrive on Friday.
* Another 2,200 Marines from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit at Camp Lejeune, N.C., may arrive this weekend or on Monday for what initially is expected to be about a 90-day deployment.
AMPHIBIOUS GROUP, FLOATING HOSPITAL
* An amphibious readiness group with three ships -- the USS Bataan, the USS Fort McHenry and USS Carter Hall -- will take the Marines to Haiti. This group can produce its own purified water.
* A U.S. Navy aircraft carrier, the USS Carl Vinson, with a crew of between 4,000-5,000 sailors on board, is on the way and will arrive in the area by Friday, with 19 helicopters on board. It has three operating rooms, several dozen hospital beds and can produce fresh water.
* The much-anticipated hospital ship, the USNS Comfort, will not arrive until around Jan. 22. It has 12 operating rooms and 250 hospital beds. The Pentagon says the Comfort is a slow-moving vessel and will need a week to arrive in Haiti.
* Two additional ships, the USS Underwood and the USS Normandy, with 400 and 250 personnel, are expected to arrive on Jan 16.
