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Area Guardsmen head to Louisiana for hurricane response
About 70 Citizen-Soldiers with Company A, 311th Brigade Support Battalion joined the Missouri National Guard's response to Hurricane Gustav in Louisiana on Monday.
They are the second wave of Missouri Guardsmen to move south over the past few days.
"We are going down to stage in central Louisiana and wait for further directive," said Capt. Nathan Wilde, Company A commander. "Our mission is to hand out commodities to those in need -- those in the affected areas." The commodities include bottled water, food and meals ready to eat, Wilde said.
"You never want to see your fellow Americans in harm's way, but this is what the National Guard is all about," Wilde said. "It's our honor to assist these folks in their time of need. We're happy to help in any way we can." Sgt. 1st Class Greg Lowe, of Golden City, served with the Missouri Guard's Hurricane Katrina response three years ago. He said he's delighted this time to see the preemptive support for those in the storm's path.
"The preparation for this hurricane is outstanding," Lowe said. "These soldiers, who have never responded to this type of emergency, are in for a real experience. They'll learn quickly what it's like to see so many people in distress, but it's good to see so many of the citizens heeded the warnings and got out of harm's way ahead of the storm. Hopefully that will minimize the amount of suffering."
Spc. Walter Dobbin, of Carthage, said he joined the National Guard as a matter of family tradition in supporting his country and his countrymen. He is excited for the opportunity to do just that.
"This is what it's all about," he said. "This is why so many of us joined; this is why we do what we do -- to help people." The company's mobilization brought the Missouri Guard's flood response to roughly 1,300 Soldiers. The Guard's hurricane response includes an aviation maintenance team from Springfield; the 7th Civil Support Team, located at Fort Leonard Wood; the 1221st Transportation Company in Dexter, Portageville and Sikeston; and Company A, 311th Brigade Support Battalion in Nevada and Lamar.
On Monday, the 203rd Engineer Battalion and Forward Support Company, in Joplin; 1141st Engineer Company, in Kansas City; 294th Engineer Company, in Carthage and Anderson; 220th Engineer Company, in Festus; 880th Haul Team, in Perryville; 311th Brigade Support Battalion, in Lexington; and the 548th Transportation Com-pany, in Trenton, will be joining the troops currently in Louisiana.
For more information about the Missouri National Guard, please call (888) GoGuard or visit www.moguard.com.