Junior Florestal was 13 when he left Haiti for a better life in the United States. He never meant to stay away so long, and he certainly never imagined he’d be returning on duty in the wake of a national disaster. But when an earthquake devastated his native island last Tuesday, he jumped at the chance to be of service.
“I was ready to go that day,” the 33-year-old told the Associated Press. “When I was watching it on TV in the States, I couldn’t wait to get back here and help out.”
And that’s exactly what he did. When Florestal learned that his unit, the 82nd Airborne Division, would be heading for Haiti’s Port-au-Prince immediately, he couldn’t help but wonder after the dozens of relatives he knew were living in and around the Haitian capital. He had no idea whether they had survived or not.
While helping to deliver food, water and supplies, Florestal made sure to ask after his family, not only for himself, but for his frantic mother back in Orlando, FL, who had been unable to get through to anyone on the island.
Then Saturday, Florestal caught a break when he miraculously encountered one of his cousins waiting in line for food. He learned that most of his family survived, including his mother’s sister and brother. It was the news his mother had been waiting for.
But Florestal hasn’t just been able to bring relief to his mother. Thanks to his childhood in the Caribbean nation, he speaks fluent Creole and has been able to act as an interpreter for the many Haitians who only speak halting English. As hard as the experience has been for him, Florestal feels a calling to help the people he was raised amongst.
“I just want to help everybody, family or not,” he said. “These are my people. This is my nation.”
Photo courtesy of the US Army via Flickr.