Most returning LA Natl Guard lost everyting to Hurricane Katrina

[katinmn]

Trading one diaster for another...:-( Welcome home, guards. :patriot:

http://www.comcast.net/news/index.jsp?cat=GENERAL&fn=/2005/09/09/218081.html

Louisiana Guardsmen Return Home From Iraq
By JIM KRANE, Associated Press Writer
58 minutes ago

ALEXANDRIA, La. - Greeted by the blasts of water cannon, the first planeload of 100 Louisiana National Guardsmen returned home Friday from Iraq, leaving behind the carnage of warfare to find their families in their hurricane-ravaged state.

As soon as the plane touched down, the troops clapped and yelled, "Yeah!"

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome home!" a flight attendant announced on the P.A. system. "We're glad you're home safe."

After the plane touched down here following a flight from Kuwait and stopovers in Europe and Maine, a pair of green fire trucks blasted the Boeing 757 with water cannon as 50 to 60 people clapped and held banners saying "Welcome home troops."

more

[Duer 157099]

1. wtf, is that a joke?

blasting the plane with water cannons? Just to remind them of what happened, or what?

[katinmn]

3. I think it must be a tradition

[katinmn]

2. These are not exactly fresh-faced kids coming home.....

Louisiana National Guardsmen are briefed on their departure from Iraq. Officials said most of the brigade will likely help with hurricane relief.

Photo Credit: Pool Photo/by Anja Niedringhaus Via Associated Press Photo

[katinmn]

4. Troops Head Home to Another Crisis

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/01/AR2005090101661.html
With the Louisiana National Guard in Iraq
Troops Head Home To Another Crisis
State Force to Leave on Schedule, But No Special Rotations Planned

By Ellen Knickmeyer
Washington Post Foreign Service
Friday, September 2, 2005; Page A19

BAGHDAD, Sept. 1 -- The 3,700 Louisiana National Guard members in Iraq will begin heading home within about a week as part of normal troop rotations, but there are no mass Guard movements back to the United States planned to aid hurricane relief, U.S. military officials in Baghdad said Thursday.

"Everyone we have here, and every piece of equipment we have here, is needed here," said Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch, senior spokesman for U.S. forces in Iraq.

Exceptions will be made on a case-by-case humanitarian basis to allow Guard members whose families have been hit especially hard by Hurricane Katrina to return, Lynch said.

With thousands of National Guard troops serving tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and the Guard retaining fewer members at home, officials in the United States have acknowledged that the scale of the destruction along the Gulf Coast is stretching their stateside manpower. Wisconsin agreed Wednesday to send 500 Guard troops to Louisiana to help make up for the shortfall.

more

[katinmn]

5. Louisiana Guardsmen Depart Iraq to Find Families, Homes

This is going to be hard on them. The last 10 days must have been hell being so far away....

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGB1Q1FNDDE.html

Louisiana Guardsmen Depart Iraq to Find Families, Homes
By Jim Krane Associated Press Writer
Published: Sep 8, 2005

CAMP VICTORY, Kuwait (AP) - A plane carrying 100 Louisiana National Guardsmen left this U.S. base in the desert late Thursday, most returning to damaged homes and families-turned-refugees by Hurricane Katrina.
The troops ended their Iraq duty a little more than a week before they were scheduled to return to the United States on regular rotation.

"We were ecstatic because we were going home," said Sgt. Jackie Gantt, 39, of St. Rose, La., just outside New Orleans.

But after the ravages of the hurricane, New Orleans is no longer home.

more

[katinmn]

6. Kick!

[Duer 157099]

7. We need a cartoon

With these guys getting in their jeeps heading home, with a magnet ribbon that says:

"Support Our Families"

[unhappycamper]

8. I'm glad they are home, and hope they find their families

safe and well.

Peace, my brothers and sisters. Thank you for your service.

:kick: & nominate

[paineinthearse]

9. Welcome home

"We're offering them the opportunity to continue to serve in the Guard and help us rebuild southeast Louisiana," Blanco said. "That will keep them employed. This will be an opportunity to tide them over."

Was it Howard Dean or Ted Kennedy who suggested a TVA-like federal work project for rebuilding the devistated areas?