Army sending first group of infantry troops to Haiti to set up for earthquake relief mission

82nd Airborne troops headed to Haiti for quake aid

WASHINGTON — More U.S. forces are getting under way as the military ramps up its mission to help earthquake victims in Haiti.

An advance group of a little over 100 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division will leave Fort Bragg in North Carolina Thursday. The Army says the group will find locations to set up tents and other essentials in preparation for the arrival of another several hundred from the division on Friday.

The soldiers come on top of some 2,200 Marines also on their way as the military prepares to help with security, search and rescue and the delivery of humanitarian supplies.

More than a half dozen U.S. military ships also are expected to help, with the largest, the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, also arriving Thursday.