By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Amy Kirk

Continuing Promise 2008 Public Affairs

ABOARD USS KEARSARGE (NNS) -- The prime minister of Haiti visited the amphibious ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) Sept. 9 to express thanks and gratitude to the U.S. troops and the Navy for providing disaster relief support to her country and its people.

During her visit, Michele Pierre-Louis told Kearsarge Commanding Officer, Capt. Walter Towns, that she was impressed with the crew´s dedication and hard work in getting much needed supplies to the citizens.

Towns explained that so many Sailor´s have volunteered to help that those organizing the working parties have to turn away volunteers.

"What we saw flying over the country was so much damage and devastation to a beautiful country," said Capt. Fernandez "Frank" Ponds, mission commander, Continuing Promise 2008. "It´s hard for us to grasp it all. You can´t help but be choked up. We are here now to help our neighbors, our friends. We are glad to do what we can to help."

During a tour of the ship, Louis met with four Sailors from Haiti serving aboard Kearsarge.

"She was very appreciative of us," said Aviation Boatswain´s Mate (Handling) 3rd Class Pierre Toussaint. "It was a great honor to meet her. She thanked us for our part in this evolution, working as translators so we can build a better relationship between the ship and the country."

On Sept. 5, U.S. Southern Command directed Commander, 4th Fleet to divert Kearsarge from its humanitarian/civic assistance mission, Continuing Promise 2008, in the Caribbean to assist the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Any U.S. military assistance to a foreign nation must be requested by the host nation through the U.S. ambassador. Then, as the lead federal agent, USAID´s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance fields the request and asks the Department of Defense for military assistance, if needed.