Andy Canning among those helping earthquake victims

When Vandalia native Andy Canning enlisted in the Navy, he hoped to see the world.

What he didn’t count on was being deployed to help provide aid to the people of Haiti after a devastating earthquake hit the area on Jan. 12.

But that’s exactly where he’s found himself.

Though the information coming from Canning is sketchy, his mother, Teresa Powell of Vandalia, said that his aircraft carrier – the USS Carl Vinson – was diverted from its previous location off the coast of Virginia and was ordered to take up a position near the island of Haiti.

The sailors are part of a mammoth effort to provide food, water and medical supplies to the victims of the disaster.

The USS Carl Vinson and its crew of 3,000 arrived in Port-au-Prince harbor three days after the quake. The ship is serving as a “floating airport” for helicopters being used to move relief supplies from incoming ships to various locations in Haiti.

The Carl Vinson is one of the largest ships in the American fleet. It carries 19 helicopters, has equipment that is capable of purifying large quantities of water and also has extensive medical facilities – including two surgical rooms, dozens of hospital beds, more than 50 doctors and other medical personnel.

Other Navy ships have since joined the Carl Vinson as the medical relief effort has expanded.

In an e-mail to his mother, Canning said “These people need our help bad, and to be the first people here besides the Army is an outstanding way to start a deployment.

“It just brings a sense of pride to myself and the rest of the ship. Especially since we are brand new back in the fleet. It shows that we are seaworthy and willing to do our jobs at any cost.”

His impressions of the devastation and the people were also described in the email.

“I’ve never seen a human being so happy to see a simple bottle of water before. It makes a person glad to have the material things we have. Little kids were running up to us like we were gods because we had water and food.

“Then there’s the flip side of it…seeing people get trampled running to the drop sites, trying to feed their family.”

He described the scene as “absolute carnage” and said “death was everywhere, and numerous people with injuries. I’ll never forget this…ever.”

He also told his mother to “tell all the people that I want their e-mails and prayers for me and my guys. They didn’t tell us how long we were gonna be here or nothing, they just said to tell our families you love ‘em and get ready to handle business.

“We had a shop prayer tonight and I put in my two cents with my favorite verse (Philippians 4:13): ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’”

Powell said that although her faith provides some comfort, it’s difficult not to worry about her son.

“I’m nervous,” she said. “I worry about him a lot. Those people there are desperate, and there are looters and gangs. But at least he’s not in Iraq; he’s not being shot at.

“He emails me quite a bit and calls once in a while, and that’s a relief to hear from him. I remind him that we’re supporting him and that I’m very proud of him. All I can do from here is to pray for his safety and put him in the Lord’s hands.”

Canning, who turned 21 on Jan. 9, is a seaman E3. His normal job on the ship is in Aviation Ordinance – meaning he works on planes and helps prepare the bombs they carry.

Prior to the diversion to Haiti, the USS Carl Vinson was preparing to sail around South America, with a destination of San Diego. When that will happen is anybody’s guess.

Meanwhile, Powell keeps a close watch on news coverage coming out of Haiti and checks her emails frequently. She said that the support of family and friends – and other military moms – has helped her cope. But there’s nothing like hearing her son’s voice on the phone.

“You always want to protect your children,” she said. “But now he’s stepped out of his child’s life and into a man’s life.”