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| Combat operations underway in New Orleans |
| 2005-09-04 |
| Combat operations are underway on the streets âto take this city backâ in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. âThis place is going to look like Little Somalia,â Brig. Gen. Gary Jones, commander of the Louisiana National Guardâs 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. âWeâre going to go out and take this city back. This will be a combat operation to get this city under control.â 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. âWeâre here to do whatever they need us to do,â Sgt. 1st Class Ron Dixon, of the Oklahoma National Guardâs 1345th Transportation Company. âWe packed to stay as long as it takes.â 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. âI never thought that at a National Guardsman I would be shot at by other Americans,â said Spc. Philip Baccus of the 527th Engineer Battalion. âAnd I never thought Iâd have to carry a rifle when on a hurricane relief mission. This is a disgrace.â 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. âThis is making a lot of us think about not reenlisting.â Ferguson said. âYou have to think about whether it is worth risking your neck for someone who will turn around and shoot at you. We didnât come here to fight a war. We came here to help.â |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #4 It says living conditions in New Orleans are worse than Iraq, that Iraqis are worse shots than New Orleans thugs, and that you don't get combat pay in New Orleans. |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2005-09-04 19:14 |
| #3 âThis is making a lot of us think about not reenlisting.â Ferguson said. âYou have to think about whether it is worth risking your neck for someone who will turn around and shoot at you. We didnât come here to fight a war. We came here to help.â Keeping in mind the press has wet dreams over quotes like this, and it's quite possible they made it up or twisted it completely out of recognition, what does it say that people are reluctant to re-enlist after their experience in NOLA, but re-enlisting in droves after their experience in Iraq? |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2005-09-04 18:52 |
| #2 Gunfight on the Danziger Bridge. 5-6 people with guns dead, 2-3 others wounded. Implication is they were shot by law enforcement (no idea whether NOPD, State Police, or MPs). The dead & wounded were firing on Army Corps of Engineers contractors trying to repair the canal. Comment here in the house was our guys need more practice time at the range. Glenmore, evac'd from near New Orleans |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2005-09-04 18:50 |
| #1 Spc. Cliff Ferguson needs an informational tour of the Angola State Penitentiary to see some of the people who are out there on the streets. Maybe even pickup a t-shirt while he's there. He'll find the same thugs there both in Angola and NO, that he'd find anywhere else in the world who will exploit, kill, abuse those the least able to fend for themselves. That is why strong men must stand before the darkness that is always around the corner. |
| Posted by: Angerong Uninelet1441 2005-09-04 09:53 |