Soldiers on a mission -- to help Haiti

David L. Ryan/Globe Staff

Soldiers on the plane to Haiti this evening

By Brian MacQuarrie, Globe Staff

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – “All right, let’s go. Non-stop flight to Haiti. No smoking,” barked the officer this afternoon as a group of soldiers boarded a C-17 transport plane from Pope Air Force Base bound for Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

Awaiting a later flight was Nimchie Alce, 31, an Army sergeant from South Boston, who was scheduled to return to her native Haiti to help with translation as the massive recovery continues.

“I’m nervous and kind of scared,” said Alce, who speaks Creole and was raised in the Mary Ellen McCormack housing development. “Whenever you see suffering, it’s hard.”

Alce, who is part of the 3rd Psychological Operation Battalion, will work with the local population to determine their needs.