JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Capt. Ed Sutton, a C-17 pilot with the 701st Airlift Squadron at Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, helped deliver more than 170,000 total pounds of humanitarian aid to Haiti April 21.
Like other pilots who fly the Air Force Reserve mission, Ed draws a certain sense of satisfaction delivering humanitarian goods when needed to places around the globe.
Since joining the 701st AW in December 2014, Ed has flown three Denton cargo missions to Haiti, which utilized space available on the U.S. military aircraft to transport goods for the country in need.
Not many people who fly these missions have a direct connection with the people on the ground in places like Haiti. Ed on the other hand does. And, on his last two missions to Haiti he was greeted at the plane by Andrew Sutton, a missionary who has been helping and working with the people of Haiti for more than five years – and yes, Ed and Andrew are brothers.
Growing up in Gilbert, South Carolina, the Suttons never imagined they would be so many miles apart and yet somewhat connected by their unique callings in life.
Ed’s introduction of his brother Andrew to the 315th AW helped shed some additional light on the humanitarian support missions flown to Haiti by the wing’s Airmen - as well as the life-saving work of people like Andrew and his family who often go unheard of – and often not seen.
It’s hard for words to describe the benefits provided by the men and women of the 315th AW who support these Denton runs, and the same is true for people like Andrew and his missionary family.
Andrew, his wife Angie, and their three daughters live, work and serve with Hands and Feet Children’s Village in Grand Goave, Haiti where they provide hope and care for 34 children ranging from ages 18 months to 20 years old.
Currently, the majority of the kids are between 12 and 20 years old. Another family who lives in Grande Goave with Andrew and Angie help to provide care and support, too.
Andrew and Angie work as a team, and they have learned how to divide and conquer to meet the demands of their mission.
Andrew oversees the construction and maintenance of their campus along with its finances. Angie stays busy with orphan care and oversees the operations finances, and she also has responsibility for the Haitian staff members who help provide care for the kids.
According to Andrew and Angie, their Christ-centered purpose is to provide family-style, residential care and sustainable solutions that fight against Haiti’s orphan crisis.
“We love living here in Haiti and serving these precious children,” said Andrew.
Although Andrew and Angie are not currently in the Denton program, they do benefit from its services, supplies and the people who make it all possible.
Food and water are always a top priority for Haitian children in need, and the Sutton couple said they were pleased to see a lot of Kids Against Hunger rice on the plane.
“We get a monthly supply of Kids Against Hunger rice to help feed our kids,” said Angie. “So indirectly, we are reaping the benefits of the Denton mission.”
Andrew and Angie said their three girls have adjusted nicely to life in Haiti and have a lot of friends at HAF.
Ed said he and his brother don’t talk about anything too serious during their short encounters on the ground in Haiti, and according to Ed most of his time is spent hanging out with the kids since he doesn’t get to see them too often.
Outside of their missionary work, Andrew is a pilot and airplane mechanic, and Angie is a registered nurse.