Troops begin combat operations in New Orleans to fight 'insurgents'
Joseph R. Chenelly/Army Times | September 4 2005
http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/september2005/040905combatoperations.htm
NEW ORLEANS Combat operations are underway on the streets to take this
city back in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
This place is going to look like Little Somalia, Brig. Gen. Gary Jones,
commander of the Louisiana National Guards Joint Task Force told Army
Times Friday as hundreds of armed troops under his charge prepared to
launch a massive citywide security mission from a staging area outside the
Louisiana Superdome. Were going to go out and take this city back. This
will be a combat operation to get this city under control.
Jones said the military first needs to establish security throughout the
city. Military and police officials have said there are several large areas
of the city are in a full state of anarchy.
Dozens of military trucks and up-armored Humvees left the staging area just
after 11 a.m. Friday, while hundreds more troops arrived at the same
staging area in the city via Black Hawk and Chinook helicopters.
Were here to do whatever they need us to do, Sgt. 1st Class Ron Dixon,
of the Oklahoma National Guards 1345th Transportation Company. We packed
to stay as long as it takes.
While some fight the insurgency in the city, other carry on with rescue and
evacuation operations. Helicopters are still pulling hundreds of stranded
people from rooftops of flooded homes.
Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and police helicopters
filled the city sky Friday morning. Most had armed soldiers manning the
doors. According to Petty Officer 3rd Class Jeremy Grishamn, a spokesman
for the amphibious assault ship Bataan, the vessel kept its helicopters at
sea Thursday night after several military helicopters reported being shot
at from the ground.
Numerous soldiers also told Army Times that they have been shot at by armed
civilians in New Orleans. Spokesmen for the Joint Task Force Headquarters
at the Superdome were unaware of any servicemen being wounded in the
streets, although one soldier is recovering from a gunshot wound sustained
during a struggle with a civilian in the dome Wednesday night.
I never thought that at a National Guardsman I would be shot at by other
Americans, said Spc. Philip Baccus of the 527th Engineer Battalion. And I
never thought Id have to carry a rifle when on a hurricane relief mission.
This is a disgrace.
Spc. Cliff Ferguson of the 527th Engineer Battalion pointed out that he
knows there are plenty of decent people in New Orleans, but he said it is
hard to stay motivated considering the circumstances.
This is making a lot of us think about not reenlisting. Ferguson said.
You have to think about whether it is worth risking your neck for someone
who will turn around and shoot at you. We didnt come here to fight a war.
We came here to help.
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