We continue to support the ongoing efforts of our men and women in uniform as they assist in the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti.  Numerous reports have cited the importance of care packages, USO Centers, and our volunteers as Troops continue to deploy to Haiti as part of Operation Unified Response.  Here’s a brief roundup of some of the latest reports:

[caption id=“attachment_735” align=“aligncenter” width=“500” caption=“A Haitian boy watches as rigid-hull inflatable boats from amphibious dock landing ships USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43) and USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) arrive ashore at the New Hope Mission at Bonel, Haiti, Jan. 19, 2010. The multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) is on station in Haiti with the amphibious dock landing ships USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43), USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44) and USS Carter Hall (LSD 50), supporting Operation Unified Response, a joint humanitarian assistance mission to the island nation. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kristopher Wilson/Released)”][/caption]

Stars & Stripes - Story by David Allen: “All Marine Lance Cpl. Franz Rosemond knows is that his pregnant wife is alive and wandering the streets of Port-au-Prince…Rosemond, who was born in Haiti and is assigned to Camp Hansen, said he tried to work, but he cried most of the day as news came in about the disaster. Then his staff sergeant brought him word that other Haitians on Okinawa had set up a disaster outreach and support group at the Futenma USO.

He’s kept busy since volunteering full-time to help other Haitians get in touch with their family and friends more than 8,000 miles away.

He finally got a call from his wife on Sunday…Since Saturday [people have] been working at the Futenma USO, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., where AT&T and the USO have donated 100 telephone cards and volunteers have brought in their MagicJacks — a device that routes calls over the Internet — so Haitians on Okinawa could try to make contact with someone back home. Chaplains and other support personnel have also been available.”  Click here to read the full story.

XVIII Airborne Corp Public Affairs - Story by Sgt. Maj. Sharon Opeka: “While XVIII Airborne Corps units prepare equipment and await air transportation for humanitarian relief operations in Haiti, their Fayetteville and Spring Lake, N.C., neighbors are showing their support.

Volunteers from the American Red Cross and the United Services Organization of North Carolina are providing food, toiletries and support to the troops…Wanda Moore, a USO-NC volunteer, is a familiar face to paratroopers who have deployed from Fort Bragg before. ‘We support everything the military does,’ said Moore. 'We bring them care packages, hugs and well wishes to make sure they know we love them.’”  Click here to read the full story.

Check the latest information on deployments to and reports out of Haiti on the Department of Defense’s Blog, DoD Live.

US Marine Jake Wood has established Team Rubicon to assist in Haiti.  Follow his blog by clicking here.

If you know of other resources or sites with relevant information, please let us know in the comments section below!