America's Contingency Corps drops supplies to assist Haiti: "On Monday afternoon, 38 pallets containing much needed supplies landed via parachute onto designated drop zones in Haiti. These supplies, packed for air delivery by riggers from the 11th Quartermaster Company, 82nd Sustainment Brigade, were part of the continuing effort to provide humanitarian aid to the areas devastated by the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that shook the country Jan. 12.
Lt. Gen. Frank Helmick, commander, XVIII Airborne Corps, said that the bundles were dropped from a C-17 aircraft that departed from Pope Air Force Base. The parachutes carried 14,000 meals and 4,000 gallons of water for the Haitian people.
While Helmick said air landing is the preferable method of delivery, an airdrop is a valuable capability that Fort Bragg and Pope Air Force Base are able to provide if necessary. The decision to drop provisions was partially due to the heavy air traffic at the airport in Port au Prince, Haiti and the dire need for supplies."
