simplyEVERYWHERE: A Warm Welcoming for U.S. Reserves from the 67th APS

Welcome Home 67th Aerial Port Squadron!

Salt Lake City, March 6, 2010

On a recent trip to Salt Lake City, Utah, I was fortunate to have arrived at the airport to witness a warm welcoming home for some U.S. Reserves who were returning from their 45-day volunteer efforts in Haiti. Earlier this year you may recall there was a devastating earthquake that shattered homes and lives in Haiti and to this day, rebuilding continues on. You may also recall the sheer number of countries who quickly went to the aid of this earthquake-stricken country only to find that it was quite difficult to get their foreign aid into the country. Fortunate for Haiti, this group of Air Force reservists played a key role in establishing operations at the Toussaint Loverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince, which allowed the United States to bring in their aid. These men and women in uniform are from the 419th Fighter Wing's 67th Aerial Port Squadron (Hill Force Air Force Base). While there, they helped load and unload passengers and cargo at the airport and also assisted in a rescue mission at the Hotel Montana (4 star hotel that collapsed). During there 45 day volunteer mission, they had handled more than 2,000 aircraft, 11,500 tons of cargo, 14,000 passengers and assisted more than 7,500 evacuees.

Some of the volunteers were also previously deployed in Iraq and noted that the experience in Haiti was worse than their service in Baghdad, Iraq. When questioned why, their response was surprising to me.

One of them mentioned that for the first 30 days, the reservists were only able to shower once every week. Though not unaccustomed to military food, they were given three MREs as their source of food. What are MREs? Pre-cooked "Meals Ready to Eat" that are packaged in air-sealed pouches and has a shelf life of 5-10 years! You can eat them right out of the pouch or boil it -- whichever your preference is, the food was still as horrible as you can imagine. Aside from food, laundry was also done in a bucket with the use of a toilet plunger.

On a positive note, one reservist noted that part of his crew also helped John Travolta unload food supplies from his personal plane (WOW! he flew his own jet there?!). To see Travolta's work in Haiti, click here. The same individual was also eager to share that despite all the hard work it was worth it all to help Haiti -- not to mention he was fortunate have met and taken a photo with the President of Brazil (his family's home country).

With that said, many of the reservists were proud to be there and proud to witness so many nations putting aside their differences to work together in this state of crisis. These reservists said it was a volunteer experience of a lifetime -- one they will not forget -- but for now, they are happy to be at home and with their families.

Here is a glimpse into one family reunion at the airport.