USS Underwood and HSL 60 to support relief efforts in Guatemala
USS Underwood (FFG 36), along with her embarked Helicopter Squadron Anti-Submarine Light (HSL 60) detachment, arrived off the coast of Guatemala May 31 to assist in humanitarian aid and disaster relief (HADR) efforts.
Guatemala recently suffered through two deadly volcano eruptions and a tropical storm within only a few days time.
Underwood is using her HSL 60 embarked helicopter to transport food, water and other supplies to the affected areas of Guatemala. On the first day of relief efforts, the pilots and crew of HSL 60 moved over 3 tons of food and supplies to remote population areas.
Underwood and HSL 60 are no strangers to the HADR mission. In January and February 2010, Underwood was the third U.S. Navy ship on station to provide relief efforts in Haiti in the aftermath of the earthquake that shook the country in January. Flying 90 hours in the first nine days, HSL 60 delivered more than 800 cases of food, 800 cases of water, flew 87 medical evacuations, moved close to 600 personnel and transported more than 115,000 pounds of equipment.
Underwood will remain off the coast of Guatemala to provide relief as long as her assistance is requested. After completing this mission, Underwood will depart Guatemala to continue with its deployment schedule.
"Being able to be a part of a humanitarian mission is a good experience for young sailors as they start their Navy careers," said Chief Fire Controlman (SW) Jason M. Richardson. "They get to see a side of the Navy they may not have known about when they joined."
Underwood, homeported in Mayport, Fla., along with her embarked helicopter detachment, HSL 60, is deployed conducting counter-illicit trafficking operations in the Eastern Pacific.
Source: US Navy
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