Medical Group sends Airmen, supplies to help in Haiti

  • Published
  • By Samuel King Jr.
  • Team Eglin Air Force Base
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Approximately 10 members of the 96th Medical Group as well as much needed medical supplies have left the base in route to disaster-struck Haiti.

Doctors, nurses, technicians and even a linguist are representing Eglin in support of the humanitarian effort.

Although 96 MDG supplies and personnel are "out-the-door" the hospital is still business as usual.

"Many of our active duty members are always prepared to deploy at a moment's notice and others will step up to take their place so this effort won't have any effect on normal patient operations," said Col. Gary Walker, 96 MDG commander.

An estimated $300,000 in medical supplies has been sent or is prepared to go to Haiti from the 96 MDG. The equipment is sorted, grouped and palletized to become a mobile clinic with 30-day, self-sustaining capabilities. These are prepared by the 96th Medical Logistics Flight.

"The unsung heroes of Eglin's effort are our logistics folks," said the colonel. "They work behind the scenes getting those supplies together and providing them where they are needed."

Not only has the MDG directly supported the humanitarian effort, but they also backed up Hurlburt Field since the first day of the tragedy, coordinating movement of and supplying equipment between the two bases. Eglin Airmen also provided vaccinations, processing and logistical support to the 1st Special Operations Wing aircraft that deployed from Eglin.

"It's definitely been a collaborated effort for us," Master Sgt. Christian Urena, 96th Medical Support Squadron. "Since they left earlier, we made sure they had any medical equipment they needed."

According to Colonel Walker, all of the MedGroup warriors who've left for Haiti volunteered to go.

"They were lined up waiting to go and that attitude is emblematic of everyone in the 96 MDG," he said. "It's a true honor for me and I speak for everyone in my group as well, to be able to contribute to this noble cause."

Eglin has numerous Airmen from various support career fields on standby.

The Air Force response:

Nearly 500 Air Force personnel are on the ground in Haiti.
MQ-1s, C-17s, C-130s, RC-26s and a Global Hawk are participating in the effort for the Air Force.
Between Jan. 21 - 23, more than 64,000 bottles of water and more than 44,500 Meals Ready to Eat were airdropped into Haiti.