[Vision2020] Troops begin combat operations in New Orleans

[Burt Sid]

http://www.armytimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-1077495.php


September 02, 2005

Troops begin combat operations in New Orleans

By Joseph R. Chenelly
Times staff writer 
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 Guard's 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. "We're 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.

"We're here to do whatever they need us to do," Sgt. 1st Class Ron
Dixon, of the Oklahoma National Guard's 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 I'd 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 didn't come here
to fight a war. We came here to help."