Guardsmen talk about their mission
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Local members of the National Guard met today at the armory to learn more about their deployment to help with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Forty-nine Company A, 1st Battalion, 293rd Infantry Guardsmen leave sometime this weekend, expecting to provide security in Mississippi. They range in experience from less than a year to Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom veterans.
First Lt. Andrew Weaver said today, "We're excited about going down there. We wish it could have been yesterday." Some of the guardsmen in college dropped out of their classes in order to help with the relief efforts. The local Guard will be joined by infantrymen from Rensselaer.
"It's a unique situation we've got here," said Weaver.
Each man was told to take enough equipment for the first 10 days, including such items as razors and granola bars. The Guardsmen were only told Thursday they were being deployed. Weaver said the men were told to pack enough cell phone batteries to last, though there are no cell phone towers down there.
Weaver also said the great employers of the Warsaw and surrounding areas have been understanding.
As infantrymen, Weaver said the unit will provide security forces. The company was part of the forces that fought opening day of the Iraqi War. Weaver said the 1st Battalion, 293rd Infantry, of which Company A is a part, was the first National Guard battalion to receive the Combat Infantryman's Badge since the Korean War.
"There's a lot of history and pride in this battalion," said Weaver.
Indiana Army National Guard SFC Denny J. Harlan, Recruiting and Retention NCO, said today members of the Guard are from different walks of life. Some have families and even young children. The Family Readiness Group supports the soldiers' families in various ways while the unit is deployed. The group coordinates fundraisers and care packages, plus take care of their own families.
Four men spoke this morning about their previous experiences and expectations for the next two months, including Spc. Craig Witham, Spc. Kurt Landis, Private Nicholas Newton and Sgt. 1st Class Gregory Bussard.
Witham has nine years in the service, having served in Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom. After returning from Iraq, Witham took a year off, he said, because he needed a break. He said he returned to duty because, "I just missed the guys, missed the camaraderie."
Landis has served for 5-1/2 years, including Iraqi Freedom, while Newton has only been in the Guard for approximately 10 months.
"I'm kind of excited," said Newton of the deployment, "because I wanted to join for adventure and help out."
Bussard has served 23 years and was the Squad Leader in Iraq.
Witham said, "Iraq was a different experience for everyone. No one was used to the conditions." The mission down south, he said, will be different because everyone will feel the effects of the Guard's work and see the good things the Guard can do. Even people in Indiana will see a positive effect from the work of the Guard.
Witham also said he expects they will do the same job down there as they did in Iraq - security, get the cities under control.
Bussard said the people in the states will act worse than those in Iraq because Americans are not used to having no electricity and similar problems. The people in Iraq understood what was going on because they've lived it. Americans, Bussard said, "never lived like that." However, if the people down south get irritated, Bussard said the Guard will understand.
With the National Guard present, Bussard said that will calm some of the people down, but not all.
"It'll take a strong show of force to calm it down," said Witham.
However, Bussard said the people in Mississippi won't be treated like those in Iraq. The Guard will use more tact.
As for their absences from home for the next couple of months, Landis said it will have a big effect on his family, though he will have his cell phone with him. Along with his 18-1/2-month-old baby, his wife has epilepsy and seizures.
After a year in Iraq, however, Witham said their families will be OK with 60 days. Their families also will not be as scared because the Guard still will be in the states. Newton said his family understands he has to go, though his girlfriend didn't take it too well.
Bussard said, "My employer backs me 110 percent. He understands we've got a job to do."
Anyone interested in sending supplies, such as razors or other supplies, to the Guard, said Weaver, can send them to the Armory at 315 W. CR 350N, Warsaw, IN 46582. The supplies will be forwarded to the infantrymen. [[In-content Ad]]
Local members of the National Guard met today at the armory to learn more about their deployment to help with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Forty-nine Company A, 1st Battalion, 293rd Infantry Guardsmen leave sometime this weekend, expecting to provide security in Mississippi. They range in experience from less than a year to Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom veterans.
First Lt. Andrew Weaver said today, "We're excited about going down there. We wish it could have been yesterday." Some of the guardsmen in college dropped out of their classes in order to help with the relief efforts. The local Guard will be joined by infantrymen from Rensselaer.
"It's a unique situation we've got here," said Weaver.
Each man was told to take enough equipment for the first 10 days, including such items as razors and granola bars. The Guardsmen were only told Thursday they were being deployed. Weaver said the men were told to pack enough cell phone batteries to last, though there are no cell phone towers down there.
Weaver also said the great employers of the Warsaw and surrounding areas have been understanding.
As infantrymen, Weaver said the unit will provide security forces. The company was part of the forces that fought opening day of the Iraqi War. Weaver said the 1st Battalion, 293rd Infantry, of which Company A is a part, was the first National Guard battalion to receive the Combat Infantryman's Badge since the Korean War.
"There's a lot of history and pride in this battalion," said Weaver.
Indiana Army National Guard SFC Denny J. Harlan, Recruiting and Retention NCO, said today members of the Guard are from different walks of life. Some have families and even young children. The Family Readiness Group supports the soldiers' families in various ways while the unit is deployed. The group coordinates fundraisers and care packages, plus take care of their own families.
Four men spoke this morning about their previous experiences and expectations for the next two months, including Spc. Craig Witham, Spc. Kurt Landis, Private Nicholas Newton and Sgt. 1st Class Gregory Bussard.
Witham has nine years in the service, having served in Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom. After returning from Iraq, Witham took a year off, he said, because he needed a break. He said he returned to duty because, "I just missed the guys, missed the camaraderie."
Landis has served for 5-1/2 years, including Iraqi Freedom, while Newton has only been in the Guard for approximately 10 months.
"I'm kind of excited," said Newton of the deployment, "because I wanted to join for adventure and help out."
Bussard has served 23 years and was the Squad Leader in Iraq.
Witham said, "Iraq was a different experience for everyone. No one was used to the conditions." The mission down south, he said, will be different because everyone will feel the effects of the Guard's work and see the good things the Guard can do. Even people in Indiana will see a positive effect from the work of the Guard.
Witham also said he expects they will do the same job down there as they did in Iraq - security, get the cities under control.
Bussard said the people in the states will act worse than those in Iraq because Americans are not used to having no electricity and similar problems. The people in Iraq understood what was going on because they've lived it. Americans, Bussard said, "never lived like that." However, if the people down south get irritated, Bussard said the Guard will understand.
With the National Guard present, Bussard said that will calm some of the people down, but not all.
"It'll take a strong show of force to calm it down," said Witham.
However, Bussard said the people in Mississippi won't be treated like those in Iraq. The Guard will use more tact.
As for their absences from home for the next couple of months, Landis said it will have a big effect on his family, though he will have his cell phone with him. Along with his 18-1/2-month-old baby, his wife has epilepsy and seizures.
After a year in Iraq, however, Witham said their families will be OK with 60 days. Their families also will not be as scared because the Guard still will be in the states. Newton said his family understands he has to go, though his girlfriend didn't take it too well.
Bussard said, "My employer backs me 110 percent. He understands we've got a job to do."
Anyone interested in sending supplies, such as razors or other supplies, to the Guard, said Weaver, can send them to the Armory at 315 W. CR 350N, Warsaw, IN 46582. The supplies will be forwarded to the infantrymen. [[In-content Ad]]