Marines and Sailors from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit conduct an assessment of living conditions, water sources, and medical needs in Grand Saline, Haiti. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt Andrew J Carlson)

USS NASSAU, Off the Coast of Haiti – Small teams of Marines from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit continued their mission of assessing the current situation of towns in northern Haiti to gain information on what type of assistance may be needed after a 7.0 earthquake devastated the southern part of the island on Jan. 12.

Concurrently, Marines and Sailors from USS Nassau delivered bags of rice, lentils and Meals Ready-to-Eat (MRE’s), and sent a medical team to Anse-a-Galets, a town on Ile De La Gonave located west of Port-au-Prince.

Around 8 a.m. two MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft launched from the deck of USS Nassau bringing the teams to Grand Saline, located on the western coast, and Fort Liberte, located on the northern coast. Each team included senior leadership, medical personnel, and engineers as well as Marines and Sailors of Haitian decent who speak Haitian creole and were already deployed with the 24th MEU and Nassau Amphibious Ready Group.

The Marines are conducting such surveys to determine the status of medical facilities and gain awareness for what assistance, if any, may be needed in these areas.

“We want to take a logical, step-by-step approach to determine where aid is needed and take a focused approach at determining which methods are best for getting it there. We want to do this the right way,” said Col. Pete Petrozio, commanding officer, 24th MEU. “As soon as we identify a need we start working on ways to get that need met.”

In Anse-a-Galets the Marines distributed sacks of rice, a 500-portion box of lentils, and more than 10,000 MRE’s.to help with the shortfall of supply delivery that was regularly delivered from Port-au-Prince before the earthquake.

A group of Marines and a medical team were flown in using a CH-53E Super Stallion heavy lift helicopter to coordinate delivery of food to a local pier facility, while another group of about 20 flew to a soccer field to hand out food.

After meeting with local contacts, two of the Navy’s Landing Craft Utility boats were sent with approx. 50 Marines to offload and deliver the supplies.

At the local hospital Navy medical personnel and Marines assisted in medical care and delivered basic supplies like dressings and antibiotics.

While there, Marines performed medical evacuations for three patients that were transported back to the Nassau where they were treated for their wounds.

The Marines plan will conduct another assessment tomorrow in what’s been called the southern “claw” of Haiti, south of Port-au-Prince.

The 24th MEU is made up of the following units: Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 162 (based out of New River Air Station N.C.), Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment (based out of Camp Lejeune, N.C.), and Combat Logistics Battalion 24 (based out of Camp Lejeune, N.C.) . They are currently deployed aboard the naval vessels USS Nassau, USS Mesa Verde and USS Ashland, which make up the Nassau Amphibious Ready Group.

There is not a definitive timeline for how long the 24th MEU and Nassau Amphibious Ready Group will be assisting in Haiti.

(Taken from a 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit press release.)

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