2010020404

Raleigh’s Own Sgt. Harley Serves With Army In Haiti

By R.Gregg, The Raleigh Telegram

Thursday, February 4, 2010

PORT AU PRINCE, HAITI - A young man from Raleigh is helping out in Haiti, helping to get much needed food, water, and other supplies to the earthquake victims.

Staff Sergeant Darryl Harley grew up in Raleigh, graduating from Broughton High School in 1999 and has served in the US Army since then.

A career soldier, Harley has served at Fort Hood in Germany and also at Fort Riley in Kansas.

Sergeant Harley is now serving in Haiti at the airport with the 407th Brigade Support Battalion in the Airborne Division of the US Army.

One of the first people from Fort Bragg to respond to the earthquake, Sergeant Harley has been in Haiti since the first Sunday after the tremor.

Sergeant Harley said that the people in Haiti have been one of the best parts of his trip.

“The people are nice, really friendly, and we’ve been well-received,” said Harley. “They know we’re here to help.”

According to the sergeant, the hardest thing has been dealing with the tropical climate found in Haiti, even in the winter time. Temperatures have been reaching above 90 degrees.

“I miss those [cold, winter days in North Carolina,]” said Harley. “I came straight to the heat.”

A key component in getting supplies to the Haitian people, Sergeant Harley and others in the 407th BSB are helping load up humanitarian drops from the airport to different Airborne units around Haiti to be given to the people.

According to Sergeant Harley, despite the problems caused by the earthquake, the Haitian people have been very patient.

“It just surprised me how calm they were,” he said.

Sergeant Harley has a lot of family waiting for him to get home in Raleigh, including his grandmom “Johnsie” Harley who just had a birthday on January 25th.

Darryl said he wanted to wish his grandma a happy birthday and tell everyone he is doing well.

“Tell them I love them and I’ll see them when I get home,” he said.

When asked if there was anything they should send him in a care package, Sergeant Harley said yes.

“Send anything from McDonald’s,” he joked.

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