Navy News, news from Iraq - Navy Times

Navy, Coast Guard send supplies to Georgia

More than a week after President Bush announced “rigorous and ongoing” air and naval humanitarian operations to Georgia, two Navy ships and one Coast Guard cutter are preparing to deliver the first load of supplies by sea.

The Navy destroyer McFaul left Souda Bay, Crete, on Wednesday, and the Coast Guard Cutter Dallas “will leave later this week,” according to a 6th Fleet statement. Crews also are onloading supplies onto the amphibious command ship Mount Whitney for deployment later this month, the Navy said.

The McFaul is getting ready to enter the Black Sea and should be in Georgia within the next few days, although it is not clear at this time exactly what port she will land, said Capt. John Moore, commodore of Command Task Force 367 operating on behalf of Operation Assured Delivery, from onboard the McFaul.

The McFaul is carrying 82 pallets of supplies that include 2,100 jars of baby food, almost 900 diapers, about 860 bottles of baby cream, 1,800 bars of soap, 4,600 bottles of shampoo, 176 tissues, over 600 packets of baby wipes, and hundreds of hygiene kits, Moore said.

“We are part of the bigger effort. I’ve watched the crew of the McFaul, and the Dallas [Wednesday], in action. It’s very impressive to see their professionalism and incredible enthusiasm and desire to do good stuff,” Moore said. “They are geared up and excited and ready to do a good mission and to help the folks of Georgia as well as fulfill the mission they were asked to do.”

Moore said he is not anticipating any problems delivering the supplies, saying all three vessels will remain in Georgia until told otherwise.

“Our plan is to be available for any other humanitarian assistance, but they have not told us what just yet. We are just trying to get there as soon as we can,” he said.

On Tuesday, a C-9 jet carrying 2,256 personal hygiene kits supplied by USAID arrived in Tbilisi, Georgia, “marking the Navy’s first humanitarian assistance mission to the region,” according to the Navy. Since then, a Navy C-130 and C-40 also have provided humanitarian supplies. The extent of the maritime humanitarian mission beyond the three vessels remains unclear, Moore said.

Both missions are part of an ongoing humanitarian effort to reach about 118,000 “displaced persons as a result of armed conflict between Georgian and Russian forces last week,” according to the Navy.

Russia has pledged to pull back from Georgia under a six-point agreement brokered by France that also called for the stand-down of Georgian forces, although Russian troops remained deep in Georgian territory Thursday.

President Mikheil Saakashvili appealed for training and equipment and said Georgia would work closely with Washington to “get all of this” after meeting with Gen. John Craddock.

“We will have to help them rebuild because they are a partner in the war on terror,” Craddock, the top U.S. military commander in Europe who is also NATO’s supreme allied commander in Europe, told reporters.

Before the conflict with Russia, the U.S. was providing military training to Georgia, which contributed about 2,000 troops to Iraq, and has been a strong supporter of Georgia’s bid to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

DISCUSS: Right role for U.S.?

RELATED READING: Ford visit to Russia canceled