CDRE Thomas Negus, USN November 9 2010 06:58:10 PM
And just like that it was over. Chilean Major General Carlos Mezzano, Deputy Force Commander for United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (known as "MINUSTAH") stood onboard this magnificent flagship and thanked the CONTINUING PROMISE team for their efforts in support of the United Nations response to the effects of Hurricane Tomas. He then officially concurred with the release plan endorsed earlier in the day by the Government of Haiti, and with his consent, U.S. Southern Command released us back to our normal schedule of operations. Our efforts in Haiti were formally over.
We have now completed CONTINUING PROMISE missions to eight nations - returning to Haiti during what we called 'our ninth mission.' We leveraged what we had learned on our journey to integrate into the United Nations mission in Haiti. We were familiar with the land, the people, and the resources available to help in case of a hurricane or other disaster. Perhaps most importantly, when we picked up the phone to call someone, we weren?t calling strangers, we were talking with friends.
Now that is over. Our full spectrum of capabilities was not needed and for once Haiti was spared the darkness that could have descended. We are now on our way to a brief stop in Guantanamo, and then we head home.
It is another spectacular day at sea - a study in blues between the sky and the sea. We must comply with U.S. Department of Agriculture prohibitions regarding the transportation of agricultural products or foreign soils into the U.S. after our foreign travels. That means the entire flight deck must be scrubbed clean, and so vast numbers of Sailors and Marines are out working away under the beautiful sky. It is a joyous work; hoses spraying, brushes scrubbing, white soap suds snowing sideways in the fresh Caribbean breeze.
The air is permeated with a joy whose origins lie in the work that has been done over the past several months. Everyone aboard has sweated in the sun, everyone aboard has given of themselves in the delivery of humanitarian assistance and the creation of hope. That knowledge - that joy! - of having done a hard thing well together for great purpose, now infuses the atmosphere, and is made tangible in the laughter and splashing and easy banter among the scrubbing masses sweeping down the length of the great flight deck.
The sun is out, our work is done, we are heading home. Joy indeed!
