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Katrina

Forwarded NewsStand Story: Truman En Route to U.S. Gulf Coast in Support of Hurricane Relief Operations

Debby (MrsC1173@...) has sent you a Navy NewsStand story. You can view the original story at http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=19900.

Truman En Route to U.S. Gulf Coast in Support of Hurricane Relief Operations

From USS Harry S. Truman Public Affairs

USS HARRY S. TRUMAN, At Sea (NNS) -- USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) departed its homeport of Norfolk, Va., Sept. 1 in support of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and state disaster relief operations following the massive devastation left in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

The ongoing hurricane relief operations are an intensive humanitarian effort that involves many federal agencies, Department of Defense assets and all military branches. Truman expects to be on station off the U.S. Gulf Coast by Sept. 4.

Truman will serve as a command and control platform for hurricane relief operations, as well as provide a rotary wing forward operating sea base, provide carrier onboard delivery (COD) service and provide additional medical support, in addition to supporting the refueling of dozens of military aircraft flying in the area.

"We will be a forward floating support base, running relief articles into any area required. We will also serve as a refueling point for the large number of Navy and Army helicopters operating in the area," said Truman Commanding Officer Capt. P. Gigliotti.

"We are unsure of how many helos will come aboard," said Truman's Air Boss, Cmdr. Doug Carsten, "but it will probably be between 30 and 40. We talked with our counterparts on the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), who helped in a similar mission during the tsunami relief. They were doing up to 90 missions a day. I think we can match that on board Truman."

Truman's Supply Officer, Cmdr. Palmer, said the ship brings with it 20,000 bottles of water, more than 17,000 Meals Ready-to-Eat (MRE), 9,000 frozen meals and is awaiting 50,000 empty liquid containers. The jugs will be filled with fresh water made aboard Truman.

Truman, responding to U.S. Fleet Forces Command tasking, put to sea with only 48 hours' notice, after loading tons of supplies. Having returned from a six-month deployment in April, Truman's crew is skilled at helping others, having participated in various community relations (COMREL) projects in foreign countries.

"I want to get off the ship and help out," said Aviation Ordnanceman Airman Dantrell Chaplin, from Beaufort, S.C. "I'll pass out water, food...just help the people."

Gigliotti added that the crew has always been told to be ready on short notice, assuring, "the crew is ready; they've been briefed, and they want to help out. Truman and other [Navy] assets are on their way to help."

Truman will join a growing number of U.S. Navy ships and units operating in, or en route to, the U.S. Gulf Coast.

For related news, visit the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/cvn75/.

For the latest on Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, visit www.news.navy.mil/local/hurricane.

Joan, PACol. Potter's Cairn Rescue May you have a song in your heart, a smile on your lips and nothing but joy in your fingers.