[caption id="attachment_655" align="alignleft" width="199" caption="Air Force Tech. Sgt. Cecil Dickerson, a loadmaster from the Alaska Air National Guard's 249th Airlift Squadron, directs an Army Humvee onto a Mississippi Air National Guard C-17 aircraft at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., on Jan. 27, 2010. The Humvee, along with 90 tons of other equipment and about 40 soldiers from the 3rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), were deploying to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, for earthquake relief efforts as part of Operation Unified Response. The Fort Knox, Ky.-based unit is expected to stay in Haiti for up to six months. (U.S. Air Force photo by Maj. Dale Greer/Released)"]
Story by Maj. Dale Greer, 123rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Members of the Kentucky Air National Guard's 123rd Logistics Readiness Squadron processed more than 90 tons of cargo and about 40 U.S. Army Soldiers here tonight for deployment to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, as part of the U.S. military's response to the Jan. 12 earthquake.
The Soldiers, who began departing from the Kentucky Air National Guard Base at about 8 p.m. aboard three U.S. Air Force C-17s, will form the nucleus of a Joint Logistics Task Force. They are assigned to the Fort Knox, Ky.-based 3rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), whose mission is to "provide logistics expertise through sustainment and distribution management, anywhere, any time, in any environment," said Army Col. Marvin Whitaker, the 3rd ESC's chief of staff.
The deployment was a true joint-service effort, with one aircraft and aircrews being provided by the 729th Airlift Squadron, an Air Force Reserve unit from March Air Reserve Base, Calif.; and two aircraft and aircrews being provided by the Mississippi Air Guard's 172nd Airlift Wing and the Alaska Air Guard's 249th Airlift Squadron. Airmen from the Kentucky Air Guard provided passenger and air cargo services, working expeditiously to get the three flights loaded and airborne in the shortest time possible.
"The first cargo didn't start arriving until 1 p.m., and more cargo and passengers continued to arrive until about 6 p.m.," said Senior Master Sgt. Mike Nagel, air cargo superintendent for the 123rd LRS. "We had the first flight loaded and on its way within seven hours, which is a pretty impressive accomplishment.
"It's always a pleasure to support our sister services," he added.