The crew of the USS Bataan is in constant motion, keeping a steady flow of humanitarian supplies into Haiti.
Over the weekend, the USNS Sacagawea cruised alongside the Bataan to transfer huge shipments of food, water and other relief items. The amphibious capabilities of the Bataan make it an efficient platform for moving these life sustaining essentials rapidly into Haiti.
Helicopters carry food, water, and Marines, while hovercraft called “LCACs” deliver heavy equipment to assist a relief effort of gigantic proportions.
“How do you begin to tackle infinity?” said Capt. Thomas Negus, commodore of the Bataan Amphibious Readiness Group. “We knew this was a disaster of enormous scale. And so we are not only trying to provide initial and immediate relief and supplies. But, in so doing, we’re trying to be very structured in the way we approach it so that we’re really creating a sustainable system.”
Negus said that a long-term priority for the mission is helping to restore and support Haiti’s infrastructure, which was all but destroyed in the January 12 earthquake. However, “in these early days, it’s all about saving lives.”
The Bataan’s shipboard hospital continues to treat earthquake survivors. Some of the patients joined the crew for their weekly karaoke/talent show.
With her arm in a sling, Ketcia Cirius sang soulfully in French and then thanked the Marines and sailors for their efforts in Haiti.
“There are a lot of people right now living on the streets and with the elements,” Cirius said through a translator. “But God has been gracious and he’s doing a wonderful thing through you for us.”
The survivor’s speech drew hearty applause — a positive note to end the first week of the mission. It was also a rallying cry for the hard work in the days and weeks ahead, as American Marines and sailors begin to tackle infinity.