LOUISVILLE, Ky., - The Kentucky National Guard has mobilized two combat controllers from the 123rd Special Tactics Squadron and the commander of the 123rd Contingency Response Group to support humanitarian relief operations in Haiti, officials announced today.
"The combat controllers will assist in the airfield command and control in Haiti," said Col. Greg Nelson, commander of the Louisville-based 123rd Airlift Wing. "These Airmen will deploy to Pope Air Force Base today to join other special operations forces, and then fly into Port-au-Prince tomorrow."
Col. Warren Hurst, commander of the 123rd CRG, will deploy tomorrow and will serve as deputy director of Mobility Forces for Air Force North, based at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fl. AFNORTH will coordinate the airlift support for the Haitian relief efforts.
The Kentucky Air National Guard has a distinguished history of supporting disaster relief missions overseas, their most recent airlift mission-request following a series of deadly mudslides in Ecuador in 2008.