More Moody Airmen leave for Haiti - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

More Moody Airmen leave for Haiti

Posted: Updated:

  • More WALB News10 HeadlinesMore News Headlines

  • Saturday, May 25 2013 7:30 AM EDT2013-05-25 11:30:07 GMT
    Albany Engineer K. Bruce Maples, P. E. announced some road closures Thursday morning. Beginning at 6:00 A.M., Saturday, May 25, 2013, the following streets will be closed for the Spring Fest and SB
    Albany Engineer K. Bruce Maples, announced some road closures beginning at 6:00 A.M., Saturday, May 25, 2013, in downtown Albany.

  • Friday, May 24 2013 10:55 PM EDT2013-05-25 02:55:46 GMT
    Not going out of town for Memorial Day? Don't worry, the Albany Panthers want to make sure you have a good weekend as they host their first ever beer fest. You can sample more than 20 types of beer Saturday
    Not going out of town for Memorial Day? Don't worry, the Albany Panthers want to make sure you have a good weekend as they host their first ever beer fest.

  • Friday, May 24 2013 10:50 PM EDT2013-05-25 02:50:57 GMT
    The family of a Miller County woman is mourning tonight after GBI investigators say the 58 year old was murdered by her husband, before he took his own life. Now the family of Barbara Bass is speaking
    The family of a Miller County woman is mourning tonight after GBI investigators say the 58 year old was murdered by her husband, before he took his own life.
    •   

By Jade Bulecza - bio | email

VALDOSTA, GA (WALB) –More Moody Airmen deployed to Haiti Thursday. They'll provide security and help medical teams do their jobs. This is the second Moody deployment to Haiti, and it's probably not the last.

About 50 Airmen left for Haiti on a C-17 Globe Master Thursday. Their mission: to provide security at the international airport in Port-au-Prince.

"Obviously they've been receiving a lot of flights coming in and out in support of the relief operations so we're just there to make sure the airfield is secure," said Lt. Col. Stephen Dale, 820th Group Vice Cmdr. "Planes are able to taxi. Cargo is able to be loaded and off loaded."

They're also prepared to support medical units.

"The idea is to get them all out into the city to make sure they're able to get to everybody that need medical attention, food, and other supplies," said Capt. Kevin O'Byrne, 823rd Operations Officer.

About 70 Airmen, also from the 823rd Security Forces Squadron deployed last week.

This second phase of Airmen processed Thursday morning to deploy to Haiti. In addition to providing security, they'll also resupply the Airmen that deployed last Wednesday.

"The equipment we're taking down are vehicles and food and water to resupply them as well," said Lt. Col. Dale.

Captain O'Byrne says they'll be there until the job is done.

"We're still taking the capabilities to sustain ourselves for an undetermined amount of time," said Capt. O'Byrne.

This squadron is typically trained for combat.

"There's wars going on throughout the world that we could be tasked to go to but this is an awesome opportunity to go and support the people of Haiti," said Lt. Col. Dale.

The Lt. Colonel says based on the indications they've gotten, it's going to be hectic with a steady flow of relief supplies coming through, but he's confident the south Georgia Airmen will provide the security that's needed to keep the supplies coming.

The Airmen left at noon Thursday and it's possible more airmen could be ordered to go soon.

©2010 WALB News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.  Feedback