CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Three hours from Charlotte a life and death war is being waged.
Soldiers of the 82nd Airborne are armed with guns. It is a military mission of mercy -- and the weapons are water, food and other vital supplies loaded up and on their way to the suffering in Haiti.
"I just want to get down there and help alleviate some of the suffering they're going through," said 1st Lt. Carrie Mayer with the 82nd Airborne.
C-17 and C-130 cargo planes cover the tarmac at Pope Air Force Base in Fayetteville, N.C. It is the central location for U.S. relief supplies headed for Haiti.
"Just looking forward to doing what we can do to help the Haitians," said Sgt. Jonathan Depates.
On Tuesday, I was one of five passengers on a C-17 cargo jet. We're a piece of the near-constant stream of military planes headed south to Haiti.
On our plane are trucks carrying drinking water and thousands of MREs (meals ready to eat) -- the basic necessities for a country that is starving.
"They've lost their homes. They've lost their loved ones and we obviously want to do everything we can to provide them the support they need, obviously, to rebuild their country," said Capt. Harold Cramer with the U.S. Air Force.
Shortly after sunset, we land in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. It is teeming with planes, people and pallets of food and water.
With just one landing strip, there's pressure to get the plane unloaded and back in the air to make room for the next.
But on this night, we won't return empty from Haiti. Hundreds of U.S. citizens who lived through the earthquake will head home with us. Many are dazed, drained and despondent.
"Destroyed totally," said Joseph Luc. "I lost my family."
So many people are on this flight that some are forced to sit on the floor of the aircraft. But there is no complaining, no child crying -- just the constant roar of the aircraft engines as people reflect on what they've left behind.
"My family in Port-au-Prince, they died," said Shelton Charles.
At Orlando-Sanford Airport, the evacuees are met with warm smiles and blankets. They are back on U.S. soil, but mourn the people and the country they leave behind.
"Without American people, I really don't know what Haiti will be," Luc said. "It is the reason why God will bless every single one of you who went to Haiti to help, because people really need help in Haiti."
Photos from the mission
Photos from the ground in Fayetteville
