More than 400 U.S. citizens who were in Haiti for tourism, business or charity when the Caribbean nation's devastating earthquake struck arrived back on American soil Friday, delivered to New Jersey by military aircraft.
Three military cargo planes flew 430 Americans as well as seven Haitians from earthquake-ravaged Haiti to McGuire Air Force Base.
The base set up an evacuation center, where the evacuees could get warm clothing, be examined by a doctor and receive mental health counseling.
The evacuees included Mirlene Jacob, 27, of Philadelphia, who said she had arrived in Haiti only 15 minutes before the earthquake struck. She stood on crutches at the New Jersey base as she described jumping from a damaged building.
The C-17 Globemaster 3 aircraft flew military personnel and equipment to the disaster area and returned with the citizens, base spokeswoman Angel Lopez said.
The 621st Contingency Response Wing deployed to help with the distribution of aid as part of the humanitarian effort, Lopez said.
