Gunnery Sgt. Felder Domond, a native of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, shakes hands with members of the Port-de-Paix, Haiti, community, July 24, during a visit to Lycee Guillaud Haitian School. Marines and Sailors of the USS Iwo Jima visited the school as part of a mission site screening throughout Port-de-Paix in preparation for military personnel and non-government officials to conduct humanitarian efforts during Operation Continuing Promise 2010.

Photo by Cpl. Alicia R. Giron

USS Iwo Jima Marines, sailors begin deployment on Haitian soil

26 Jul 2010 | Cpl. Alicia R. Giron 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing

PORT-DE-PAIX, Haiti -- Marines and Sailors of the USS Iwo Jima transported vehicles loaded with supplies to the coast of Port-de-Paix, Haiti, July 24, in preparation for Operation Continuing Promise 2010.

Haiti is the first stop for the Marines and Sailors deployed for Continuing Promise 2010. Throughout the deployment, U.S. service members, partner-nation military forces and non-governmental officials will provide humanitarian civic support including medical, dental, veterinarian and engineering assistance in nations thorughout the Carribean, Central and South America.

Service members will also participate in a number of community projects meant to bolster relations and morale for service members and Haitians alike.

For more information on the Continuing Promise 2010 Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force, please visit the unit’s official website at http://www.marines.mil/unit/2ndMAW/spmagtf.