Disasters

Tue Sep 6 18:00:10 UTC 2005

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com

"Tonks" <tonks_op at y...> wrote:

>Secondly I am also seriously concerned that we are using our  
>National Guard to wage a war when that is the job of the regular 
>Army.  We need to save our National Guard for the purpose for which 
>they were created, which is to help us HERE in our own country.  If 
>Bush doesn't have the ability to run a small war in Iraq and help 
>the people of the U.S. at the same time

"K":

Just a few comments.

1. The Army National Guard has more than one function, one of which 
is to support the regular U.S. Army, not just to remain HERE. As you 
can see, the National Guard has always served during wartime. 

----------

* The Guard doubled the size of the Regular Army when it was 
mobilized in 1940, more than a year before Pearl Harbor, and 
contributed 19 divisions to that war, as well as numerous other 
units including Guard aviation squadrons. More than 138,000 
Guardsmen were mobilized for Korea, followed by numerous smaller 
mobilizations for the Berlin Crisis, Vietnam, and numerous strikes 
and riots at home. 

snip

Today's National Guard continues its historic dual mission, 
providing the states with units trained and equipped to protect life 
and property, while providing the nation with units ready to defend 
the United States and its interests around the world. 

http://www.arng.army.mil/history/

The Guard in the Colonial Period 
The First Muster 
The Revolutionary War 
The Guard in the 19th Century 
The Civil War 
The Spanish-American War 
The Guard in the 20th Century 
World War I 
World War II 
Korean War 
Vietnam War 

http://www.1800goguard.com/whatistheguard/whatis_history.html

* Guard members have a long and noble history of serving at home and 
abroad to ensure the safety and freedom of their fellow citizens. 
They have combated natural disasters, supported regular Army troops, 
and when called upon, borne arms against their nation's enemies.

http://www.1800goguard.com/whatistheguard/whatis.html

----------

As for the Louisiana Army National Guard:

*Today's Louisiana Army and Air National Guard consists of 74 units 
spread among 43 cities and towns of the state and numbers some 
11,500 Army and Air Guardsmen. As a result of various 
reorganizations the present Army Guard is composed of a State 
Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 204th Area Support Group, 
the 256th Separate Infantry Brigade, the 225th Engineer Group and 
various Medical, Maintenance, Aviation, Military Police, Armored 
Cavalry and Special Forces units and the 156th Army Band. 

----------

A small example of past National Guard service:

*The accomplishments of the Louisiana National Guard in World War II 
were brilliant and numerous, and space is limited, but an idea of 
them can best be illustrated by listing the Battle Honors accorded 
three of its units:

141st Artillery - Algeria-French Morocco with arrowhead, Tunisia, 
Sicily with arrowhead, Naples-Foggia, Anzio, Rome-Arno, North 
Apennines, Po Valley, Southern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, 
Central Europe, and Distinguished Unit Citation Streamer embroidered 
Colmar. 

105th Separate Battalion CA - Algeria, French Morocco with 
arrowhead, Tunisia, Sicily with arrowhead, Naples-Foggia, Rome-Arno, 
North Apennines, Po Valley 

156th Infantry - Northern France, Central Europe, Rhineland and 
Normandy, and the Asiatic-Pacific theatre streamer without 
inscription. 

The post-war reorganization of the Louisiana National Guard began in 
1946. The following major units were organized: 
39th Infantry Division (in part), 156th Infantry Regiment, 199th 
Infantry Regiment, 141st Field Artillery Battalion, 935th Field 
Artillery Battalion, 105th AAA AW Battalion, 204th AAA Group, 527th 
AAA AW Battalion, 769th AAA AW Battalion, 773d Heavy Tank Battalion, 
122d Light Bombardment Squadron, and 135th Aircraft Control and 
Warning Squadron. 

When the Korean Conflict broke out in 1950 the 773d Tank Battalion, 
122d Light Bombardment Squadron and 135th Aircraft Control and 
Warning Squadron were called into federal service. The 773d and 122d 
were returned to State control after Korea but the 135th was 
retained by the AirForce.

----------

2. There is not a shortage of National Guard members in the state of 
Louisiana.

*Though thousands of its members are half a world away, gearing up 
in Iraq to begin their journey home from war, the Louisiana Army 
National Guard this week is tackling its other primary mission, 
disaster relief. 

It's no surprise. In June long before the 2005 hurricane season 
shifted into overdrive, the state military's second-in-command, 
Brig. Gen. Hunt Downer, told The Times the Louisiana Army National 
Guard was practiced and ready to handle the big storms. 

"We have enough troops remaining here in the state," Downer 
said. "We've always done that. And as in all cases, we move troops 
around to meet where the need's going to be. Not many really 
appreciate and understand the uniqueness of the National Guard, 
(that) we have a dual mission."

As Hurricane Katrina surged past New Orleans, Louisiana mobilized 
its soldiers to help, as did Mississippi, Alabama and other southern 
states. Despite prominent roles in the War on Terror, the states 
report more than the 50 percent strength mandated for homeland 
missions. Louisiana has 65 percent of its troops available for state 
missions; Mississippi, 60 percent; Alabama, 77 percent; and Florida, 
74 percent, Guard officials said.

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?
AID=/20050830/NEWS01/508300352/1002/NEWS

3. It is my understanding that a state must always have a certain 
number of National Guard members available to the state at all 
times. 

4. Perhaps it would be wise to ask for answers from Louisiana 
Governor Kathleen Blanco and New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin. Let's not 
give them a free pass. 

Though obviously questions must be asked now and in the future, I 
hope there will also remain love and help for those in the various 
states who have suffered greaty.

"K"

Former member of the Louisiana 256th Infantry Brigade (Mechanized)
and wife of a former Lousiana Army National Guard Commander.

256th Infantry Brigade (Mechanized)

The federal mission of the 256th Infantry Brigade is to, on order, 
mobilize, deploy to designated theater and executes combat 
operations in support of national military objectives. The state 
mission of the 256th Infantry Brigade is to, on order, provide 
trained individuals and units capable of accomplishing State 
missions. 