MDSU-1 Sailors Reflect on Humanitarian Mission in Haiti

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Robert Stirrup, Commander, Navy Region Hawaii Public Affairs

PEARL HARBOR (NNS) -- Sailors assigned to Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 1 deployed to Haiti to support Operation Unified Response Jan. 20, providing humanitarian assistance to the earthquake-ravaged nation.

After spending a week in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, MDSU-1 personnel were sent to Haiti for two weeks to be part of a command and control element.

"We arrived in Haiti by way of the Dutch ship HNLMS Pelikaan, about eight days after the earthquake happened and there was a lot of smoke and physical damage that we could see from afar," said Chief Warrant Officer Jeffrey Landry. "It was completely devastating, and the nation was in terrible condition."

"There were a lot of cracks in the ground and it looked and felt like the Earth had literally been ripped open," added Navy Diver 2nd Class Curtis Wiley. "I've been to third-world countries before but I've never seen a place in that bad of a condition. You could definitely tell they needed aid and help."

While in Port-Au-Prince, MDSU-1 personnel worked with many other commands to aid the citizens.

"As a part of the Command and Control element for salvage operations, we worked with several commands including Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 7, MDSU-2, the Air Force and the Haitian Army along with others," said Landry. "MDSU-1 did a great job of coordinating not only salvage related work, but also with being able to get food, water, fuel and basic life support for people."

Wiley reflected on the experience of helping the citizens of Haiti in their time of need.

"Anytime you get to help other people it's very rewarding and it was even more so this time being that their country had just gone through a major catastrophe," Wiley said. "My biggest reward was to be involved in a mission that not only the United States military was a part of, but also all of the other countries' militaries that were involved with the relief effort."

Other MDSU-1 personnel that were deployed to Haiti were Cmdr. John Moulton, commanding officer of MDSU-1; Command Master Chief Jose Lara; Master Chief Navy Diver Cliff Morin; and Senior Chief Navy Diver John Hopkins.

Navy Seabees are still on the ground in Haiti, improving roads and other infrastructure in advance of the rainy season, expected to start in mid-April. The engineering efforts, like the work of other Sailors who have served in Haiti, are expected to continue to save many lives.

Sailors stationed from throughout the world have served in Haiti as medical first responders, relief coordinators, engineers and even divers.

MDSU-1's mission is to provide swift and mobile ship salvage, towing, battle damage repair, deep ocean recovery, harbor clearance and underwater ship repair capabilities in support of the 3rd and 7th fleets.