USS Fort McHenry to return from Haiti

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - The Navy says the amphibious dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43) is scheduled to return home to Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek - Fort Story Sunday, after successfully completing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations off the coast of Haiti.

The Fort McHenry, along with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (22 MEU), deployed to Haiti on Jan. 14.

Sailors and Marines aboard the ship arrived in Haitian waters Jan. 18 and began offloading supplies, including 3,500 pounds of medical aide, 40,000 jars of peanut butter, 19 pallets of water, and 22 pallets of grain. Additionally, more than 17 'sailor ashore' missions were dispatched, which treated 845 outpatients, 5 inpatients, and completed 44 medical evacuation operations for patients needing critical care.

"The severity of the injuries and the circumstances we were working under was challenging, but made me want to be a better corpsman," said Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class (SW) Amber Vega.

Fort McHenry deployed to Haiti as part of the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group. Other ships included USS Bataan (LHD 5), USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) and USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44), as well as detachments from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 22, Helicopter Mine Countermeasure Squadron 15, Tactical Air Control Squadron 21, Fleet Surgical Team 8, Assault Craft Unit 4 and Beachmaster Unit 2.

"This crew inspired me," said Cmdr. Nate Moyer, Fort McHenry's commanding officer. "Each department worked seamlessly, focused on one mission: humanitarian aid to our Haitian neighbors."