http://abc26.trb.com/news/natguard08012005,0,7101775,print.story?coll=wgno-news-1LA National Guard Wants Equipment to Come Back From IraqYunji de Nies
August 1, 2005 9:07 PM CDT
JACKSON BARRACKS -- When members of the
Louisiana National Guard left for Iraq in October, they took a lot equipment with them. Dozens of high water vehicles, humvees, refuelers and generators are now abroad, and in the event of a major natural disaster that, could be a problem."The National Guard needs that equipment back home to support the homeland security mission," said Lt. Colonel Pete Schneider with the LA National Guard.
Col. Schneider says the state has enough equipment to get by, and
if Louisiana were to get hit by a major hurricane, the neighboring states of Mississippi, Alabama and Florida have all agreed to help. (And it's a damn good thing!)
"As Governor Bush did for Ivan, after they were hit so many times, he just maxed all of his resources out, he reached out to Louisiana and
we sent 200 national guardsmen to help support in recovery efforts," Col. Schneider said.
Members of the Houma-based 256th Infantry will be returning in October, but it could be much longer before the rest of their equipment comes home."You've got combatant commanders over there who need it they say they need it, they don't want to lose what they have, and we certainly understand that it's a matter it's a matter of us educating that combatant commander, we need it back here as well," Col. Schneider said.
And even if commanders in Iraq release the equipment, getting it home takes months.
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