CAMP BLANDING JOINT TRAINING CENTER, Fla., - As the world turned
its attention to the devastation caused by an earthquake in Haiti this week,
one Florida National Guard Soldier was waiting for word from family members
living in the Caribbean nation.
Capt. Ludger Monfort of the 83rd Troop Command was paying extra attention to
the media coverage of the Haitian relief efforts and hoping that his aunts,
uncle and cousins affected by the recent earthquake in Haiti are alive and
safe.
"I almost didn't believe it," the 32-year-old Guardsman said, describing his
initial feelings after hearing about the deadly earthquake. "My immediate
reaction was to call my mother (in Miami) and find out what was going on."
Monfort was born in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince, and said much of
his extended family still lives in Haiti.
For the past few days, Monfort's family in South Florida has been trying to
get any information they can about their relatives living in Haiti.
Monfort said he has about 30 relatives living throughout Haiti, although he
hasn't spoken with many of them in years.
He said they have only received word that his aunt and uncle living in
Port-au-Prince survived the 7.0 earthquake and the havoc it caused in the
capital.
"They were at their place of business in a bank when the earthquake (struck)
so they stayed there because their house had tumbled over," Monfort said.
"But they stayed in the bank the entire time and they're there right now. But
for anyone else we have no idea what is going on right now."
Monfort is based at Camp Blanding Joint Training Center in North Florida, but
said he plans to visit his mother in Miami this weekend and try to be a
"focal point" of stability for his immediate family in the U.S.
"It's shocking, but I try to stay calm whenever things like this happen,"
Monfort said, speaking rapidly with a slight Haitian accent. "I don't want to
overreact, especially when I talk to them...I am highly concerned, but I
guess I don't show it as much."
As a young child, Monfort lived with relatives in Haiti, and in the early
1980s he came to the U.S. to be with his parents, who were already working in
Miami. He became a U.S. citizen later while serving on active duty in the
Army.
Now, as Monfort watches ongoing television coverage of the Haiti's earthquake
recovery, he said he finds comfort in seeing the extensive humanitarian
relief efforts.
"They are trying, and to me that is the most important thing," he said. "But
I know it is very difficult. I'm happy to see the effort as opposed to not
seeing any at all."
According to news reports, U.S. assets are already arriving in Haiti,
including search-and-rescue teams, medical personnel and relief supplies.
After hearing early estimates of death-tolls and seeing the images of the
earthquake-ravaged capital on the news, Monfort said he expects at some point
to hear bad news about his relatives in Haiti.
"The bottom line for me is I'm really concerned, and I'm waiting for that
batch of sadness to hit me once I hear about it," he added.
Should they be needed, the Texas Guard members would work closely with and assist local authorities as needed, Guard officials said.