Nassau ARG leaves Haiti

USS NASSAU, Off the coast of Haiti - The Nassau Amphibious Ready Group departed Haiti Monday to continue on with the rest of their original deployment to the 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operation.

The Ready Group, which includes the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Nassau (LHA 4), the amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19), and the amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48), along with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, were released from duties supporting Operation Unified Response Monday by U.S. Southern Command and Joint Task Force-Haiti.

Since arriving off Haiti on Jan. 23, the Marines and sailors from the 24th MEU and Nassau Amphibious Ready Group worked around the clock supporting delivering the following in aid relief supplies:

Humanitarian Rations - 57,368 meals
Rice - 1,365,617 lbs
Water - 30,776 bottles
Medical Supplies - 3,260 lbs
Hand-Crank radios - 2,781
Baby Food - 79,656 Jars

"Marines and sailors from the Nassau ARG and 24th MEU once again proved the inherent flexibility and agility of the Navy-Marine Corps team by quickly responding to the needs of the people in Haiti," said Col. Pete Petronzio, commanding officer, 24th MEU.

The Nassau Amphibious Ready Group was scheduled for a 7-month deployment to the European and Central Command theaters but was diverted to Haiti the day of their deployment, Jan. 20, to assist the earthquake relief efforts.

More than 2500 sailors and 2200 Marines from the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit remain off the Haitian coast and will continue supporting humanitarian assistance operations in areas severely impacted near the epicenter of the Jan. 12 earthquake.

The Bataan ARG includes the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5), as well as the amphibious dock landing ships USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) and USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43).