Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
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I was invited Thursday evening to join the 419th Fighter Wing's 67th aerial port squadron as they flew to Port-au-Prince on Friday morning. I jumped at the chance - even though I couldn't find the recommended anti-malaria medication that quickly and had to rush around making sure I had extra batteries and all the radio equipment I needed. I got to HAFB at 6 AM Friday morning as requested. They joked it was a "hurry up and wait" situation because even though it took a while to be cleared, weighed, searched and briefed, we didn't leave until about 10 AM. First can I say, wow what a bird. We flew down in a C-17 cargo jet. It can HAUL stuff. Big machinery, pallets of supplies, all of us. The pilot told me how much weight they carried today but I didn't write it down. Oh yeah, I got to visit the cockpit. Those guys are incredible. The flight took 6 hours. The pilots told me they didn't know what to expect, if it would be chaos or not. There are no window seats on a C-17 but it felt like a very smooth landing to me. Once the back ramp door opened they quickly began unloading. I went down the front steps and immediately was struck by the humidity and heat of Haiti. I saw the mountains and runway to my left, and the terminal to my right. The sounds were all around me - the loud engine of our plane, the sound of 6 other jets around us, the choppers landing and departing in the field behind me, the military vehicles driving by, and he airport trucks zooming by too. I quickly ran around taking pictures for ksl.com, interviewing people, and trying to stay out of the way. Then I walked toward the airport. The uniformed UN guards didn't let me in, but not many people were in there anyway. Through the windows I saw cracked walls, puddles of water, and debris on the floor. Captain Dustin Doyle from New Jersey told me the control tower was still deemed unsafe, and he pointed to a group of people sitting in the field by the runway. They were controlling the takeoffs and landings from that field. After the unloading of all the equipment, FEMA tents, medical supplies etc from the plane, the Utah reservists were quickly rushed off to be processed and welcomed. Their job now will be to aid in unloading and loading planes quickly and efficiently. They must get the supplies off the aircraft and to the places where aid groups can come pick them up, and so that planes can land and takeoff more quickly. This has been a big bottleneck and a concern for the past two weeks, and Captain Doyle told me the Hill squadron will be a huge help. It began to get dark quickly while we waited until it was time to board the plane again. Also boarding the now-empty bird were Haitian families, and relief workers returning home. Many seemed exhausted, trying to sleep on the seats that lined the sides of the aircraft. I talked to one mother who gave a heartfelt thank you to all who are sending help to her country. We flew here to Florida, and now I'm waiting for a commercial flight to take me back to Salt Lake City. What an experience. I could not go into the devastated city for time and security reasons, but I from what I saw at the airport there is hope. Hope because of the huge amount of help and humanitarian aid not just from our country, but from so many others as well. It was such an amazing experience even though it was a quick one, and my thoughts have stayed at the airport with the Utah men and women that will be working there for the next 45 days.
