As I began searching for photos of the Haiti earthquake disaster I came upon a treasure trove of Released photos posted by the U.S. Army and the U.S. Navy via their websites and flickr photostreams.
In addition to finding photos of Operation Unified Response in Haiti, I found photos of sailors participating in an oil spill drill, maneuvers on the beaches of Thailand in exercise Cobra Gold 2010 , members returning to their bases and being embraced by families and so much more.
So on this St. Valentine's Day a photo diary honoring the U.S. Troops.
Each photo has been posted with original description and photographer.
SAN DIEGO (Feb. 3, 2010) Gas Turbine System (Mechanical) 1st Class Robert Bryan embraces his children upon returning to Naval Base San Diego after completing a six-month independent deployment. Higgins was diverted to Port-au-Prince, Haiti for Operation Unified Response in the wake of a 7.0 magnitude earthquake. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Alexia Riveracorrea/Released)
GROTON, Connecticut (Feb. 3, 2010) Machinist's Mate 2nd Class Trevor Fredrick hugs his girlfriend moments after the Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Philadelphia (SSN 690) pulls into Submarine Base New London after returning from her final deployment. Philadelphia is set to be inactivated at a ceremony later this year. (U.S. Navy photo by John Narewski/Released)
GROTON, Connecticut (Feb. 3, 2010) Chief Machinist's Mate John Graning hugs his wife and his 10 year-old daughter moments after the Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Philadelphia (SSN 690) pulls into Submarine Base New London after returning from her final deployment. Philadelphia is set to be inactivated at a ceremony later this year. (U.S. Navy photo by John Narewski/Released)
A family cries while watching the 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team leave after their departure ceremony in Burlington, Vt., Jan. 8, 2010. The unit has been ordered to Afghanistan in the largest deployment of Vermont National Guard troops since World War II. DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class C.J. McNeeley.
MAYPORT, Fla. (Feb. 9, 2010) Rachel and James Grieco wave to their father, Lt. Cmdr. James Grieco as the guided-missile frigate USS Underwood (FFG 36) returns to Naval Station Mayport after conducting humanitarian and disaster relief operations supporting Operation Unified Response. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Leah Stiles/Released)
MAYPORT, Fla. (Feb. 9, 2010) Lt. Cmdr. James Grieco embraces his children, James and Rachel upon return of the guided-missile frigate USS Underwood (FFG 36) to Naval Station Mayport. Underwood conducted humanitarian and disaster relief operations supporting Operation Unified Response. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Leah Stiles/Released)
Staff Sgt. Junior Florestal gives Haitian local Sonia Catilius a drink of water at the medic station at the forward operating base established by the 82nd Airborne Division's 1st Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Jan. 18, 2010. Florestal is a cook with the squadron, but is native of Haiti and is working with the medical section as a translator. The patient, Catilius, is Florestal’s cousin.
Soldiers from the 1st Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, pass out humanitarian aid meals to women and children in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Jan. 16, 2010. The squadron established a forward operating base at an abandoned, damaged country club near the embassy. A survivor camp of thousands is situated near the based.
Women and children receive a humanitarian meal distributed by the 1st Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Jan. 16, 2010. The troops passed out more than 2,500 meals during their first day on the ground at a forward operating base near the embassy.
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (Feb. 6, 2010) Army Diver Staff Sgt. William D'Angelo, assigned to the 544th Engineer Dive Team, right, drills guide holes into a damaged section of a pier at the port in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. UCT-1 is conducting repair operations in the main seaport of Port-au-Prince, Haiti as part of the humanitarian and disaster relief mission in support of Operation Unified Response. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Chris Lussier/Released)
Afghanistan's Kunar province, Feb. 6, 2010. International Security Assistance Force troops regularly meet with village elders to improve communications between residents and government officials. Fernandez is an assistant team leader assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment.
U.S. Army Spc. Kayla Moore covers her sector in a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter while traveling from Forward Operating Base Lightning to Contingency Operating Base Ajiristan, Afghanistan Jan. 20, 2010. Moore is a Black Hawk Crew Chief assigned to the Company A, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment. U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Laura Goodgame
SEAL BEACH, Calif. (Feb. 11, 2010) Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach training and readiness officer Allan Roy monitors the deployment of an oil containment boom during oil spill response training in Anaheim Bay. Naval Weapons Station personnel conduct regular training to protect the coastline from the effects of possible oil spills. (U.S. Navy photo by Gregg Smith/Released)
UTAPAO, Thailand (Feb. 4, 2010) A landing craft, air cushion vehicle maneuvers on the beach during a simulated amphibious assault as part of exercise Cobra Gold 2010. Cobra Gold is a joint and coalition multinational exercise hosted annually by the Kingdom of Thailand. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Greg Johnson/Released)
ARLINGTON, Va. (Feb. 7, 2010) Snow blankets the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery after a near-record snowfall in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The severe weather closed government offices and national monuments through the weekend and on Monday, including the tomb of the Unkowns. (U.S. Park Rescue Technician/Paramedic Sgt. Klebaner/Released)
WASHINGTON (Feb. 8, 2010) A snowman is on the National Mall near the Washington Monument after a near-record snowfall in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The snow forced the closing of the federal government, including all national monuments and area schools and airports. (Photo courtesy of Tedrick E. Fryman/Released)
WASHINGTON (Feb. 8, 2010) The snow-covered National Mall is reflected in the granite wall of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial after a near-record snowfall in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The snow forced the closing of the federal government, including all national monuments and area schools and airports. (Photo courtesy of Tedrick E. Fryman/Released)
SOUTH CHINA SEA (Jan. 28, 2010) The amphibious transport dock ship USS Denver (LPD 9) transits the South China Sea at sunset to participate in exercise Cobra Gold 2010. Cobra Gold is an annual exercise designed to create interoperability between the Thai, U.S. and Singaporean task forces. (U.S. Navy photo by Cmdr. Ed Thompson/Released)