By Brenda L. Holmes
INDIANAPOLIS — The mission to help rebuild Haiti is long from over. Volunteers, natives, and even U.S. military personnel are continuing to help the people of Haiti get back on their feet and a Pike High School graduate is participating in that mission in a big way.
U.S. Navy Cryptologic Technician 2nd Class Romano Rumbawa arrived in Haiti on board the multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) on Jan. 18 after the earthquake hit Haiti on Jan. 12.
“Basically, my job is one of mission defense,” Rumbawa said. “I stand watch every day to see if there is any threat to our mission in Haiti.”
He said he’s very proud of what the Navy is working to accomplish.
“It’s very rewarding to know what we are doing here is saving lives,” Rumbawa said. “I never thought in my life I would be able to experience something like this. And it’s not just me, but the entire crew. It’s been amazing.”
He said when the ship arrived it was used to help with the injured.
“Amphibious assault ships like USS Bataan are embarked with a fleet surgical team with facilities second only to the Navy’s hospital ships, Comfort and Mercy,” he said. “We saw a lot of patients because we have a medical staff here on the ship. We also supported the Marines with logistics of rebuilding. And it’s going great. Progress is being made and soon the Haitian government will be able to stand on its own and start rebuilding.”
Like the rest of the world, he said the crew had watched the news coverage and other reports coming out of Haiti before they arrived.
“It was mind blowing to see what was happening here in the streets,” he said. “And we were excited to help out with this mission.”
Bataan returned from its most recent deployment Dec. 8, following a seven-month deployment conducting maritime security operations. The deployment was designed to reinforce America’s commitment to peace, stability, and theater security in the Mediterranean and Persian Gulf regions.
The ship is currently in the Baie de Grad Goave, near the city of Grand Goave, Haiti.
“We have about 2,700 sailors and marines aboard,” Rumbawa said. “This number includes marines on the ground in Haiti.”
He said the mission is moving along, but that the unit does not have any plans to leave in the near future.
“To my knowledge, we don’t know how long we will be here,” Rumbawa said. “We’re ready to stay as long as necessary. We want to be sure the Haitian government no longer needs our help.”
Rumbawa is a 2004 graduate of Pike High School. His parents, Stan and Rita Rumbawa, split their time between Indianapolis and the Philippines.
brenda.holmes@flyergroup.com
