Dr. Lawrence DiPaolo, associate dean of the University of St. Thomas School of Theology at St. Mary’s Seminary, and a Lieutenant Junior Grade, United States Navy Reserve, departed Houston on January 18 to lend humanitarian aid in Haiti.

DiPaolo has been mobilized as part of Operation Unified Response where he will serve as Operations Officer and Assistant Officer in Charge of the Navy Cargo Handling Battalion-13 detachment assigned to NCHB-1, Williamsburg, VA.

“Anywhere that medical or other humanitarian assistance is available in the Caribbean and the United States, we will move it to Haiti making use of every platform at our disposal, i.e. ships, planes, trucks, etc.,” DiPaolo wrote in an e-mail to the University.

Earlier in his military career, DiPaolo was a religious programs specialist and petty officer for the 2nd Force Service Support Group Chaplain’s Office at the Marine Corps Base Camp LeJuene in North Carolina.

“I joined the Navy right after my 35th birthday, the latest I could join. I joined the reserve in direct response to the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and Washington,” he said.

This is not DiPaolo’s first time to face danger while serving his country. Shortly after accepting the job at St. Mary’s, he was deployed to Iraq, and not only had to postpone employment at UST, but leave his wife and two children.

More details about DiPaolo’s experience in Haiti will be available upon his return. The University asks that you keep him in your thoughts and prayers as he answers the call of duty and helps the victims of the Haiti earthquake.