Pelican Dispatch - Spring 2010 - Keep Trees

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Around the State SHREVEPORT Approximately 97 military policemen from the Louisiana Army National Guard’s 39th Military Police Company, 773rd Military Police Battalion, who deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2008, were greeted by Governor Bobby Jindal, Maj. Gen. Bennett C. Landreneau, adjutant general of the LANG, and Command Sgt. Maj. Tommy Caillier, senior enlisted advisor of the LANG, as they stepped off the plane at the Shreveport Regional Airport in Shreveport, La., Sept. 26. While deployed, the 39th, based in Camp Minden, successfully completed more than 700 combat missions throughout Iraq without serious injuries or loss of life while performing Police Transition Team operations by assisting with logistics, training and maintaining supplies on hand at local police stations in Baghdad, and also working with the Iraqi Police conducting motor patrols, main supply route reconnaissance and establishment, and traffi c control points. Additionally, the company also trained and staffed the Police Center of Excellence, an academy where advanced crime scene and investigative techniques are taught to Iraqi Police, and assisted in the center’s relinquishment from coalition forces’ control to Iraq Provincial police jurisdiction and oversight. BELLE CHASSE Tariq Hanna designed a one-of-a-kind replica of an F-15 for the Louisiana National Guard’s 159th Fighter Wing’s family day at Naval Air Station – Joint Reserve Base in New Orleans, Dec. 6. Hanna was asked by Louisiana Guardsman Senior Airman Charlie Fenton to bake a unique cake for family day. Fenton, of the 159th Aircraft Maintenance Support Squadron, is new to the wing and fi gured that his friend would bake a good treat for the families. “This was a way for me to say thank you very much,” said Hanna. “You put your life on the line so that I can continue playing with cakes.” Hanna is not only a chef at New Orleans’ own Sucre Bakery, but he is also part owner of the establishment. He has been recognized locally and nationally for his creations. 26 Pelican Dispatch / Spring 2010 PINEVILLE On leave from a deployment in Kuwait, Louisiana Army National Guardsman 2nd Lt. Crystal A. Huff welcomed her sister Mindy M. Donnelly into the National Guard by administering the oath of enlistment during a swearingin ceremony at the Military Entrance Processing Station in Shreveport, La., Sept. 30. Donnelly, a Calhoun, La., native, has since departed for Fort Jackson, S.C., to begin her 10-week Basic Combat Training course followed by 10 weeks of Advanced Individual Training at Fort Lee, Va. She will enlist as a Food Service Specialist. Upon completion of training, she will join the 199th Brigade Support Battalion, 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team at Camp Shelby, Miss., in preparation for a January 2010 deployment to Iraq. CAMP MINDEN The Louisiana Army National Guard broke ground during a special ceremony attended by Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal to mark the start of construction for the long-awaited Regional Training Institute at Camp Minden in Minden, La., Oct. 6. The phase one construction will provide the site infrastructure for all four phases. A two-story, 14,636 square foot billeting building and an 8,200 square foot education/administration building will be constructed. Also, a 6,430 square foot addition will be added to the Dining Facility currently under construction. The RTI will provide regionalized combat arms, leadership, military occupational specialty, and general studies training for the Army National Guard and will monitor and coordinate academic instruction, food and lodging for Soldiers. The RTI Regiment will have a staffi ng strength of 97 personnel, and the new facilities will allow for a student load of around 8,000. BOSSIER CITY Louisiana National Guardsmen assisting with fl ood abatement operations starting on Oct. 31, when fl ood waters threatened neighborhoods in Bossier City, La. Approximately 400 Louisiana Guardsmen had been running around-the-clock operations to help the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bossier City offi cials and Airmen from Barksdale Air Force Base reinforce a six-mile stretch of levee that was starting to be overtopped by waters from the Redshoot bayou after a massive rainfall. Forty-eight high water vehicles were also used to support the operations. The mission of delivering sandbags and reinforcing the levee was a success. BATON ROUGE Brig. Gen. Glenn Curtis, director of the joint staff for the Louisiana National Guard, was one of 11 alumni inducted into the Cadets of the Ole War Skule Hall of Honor during a ceremony on the Louisiana State University campus, Nov. 14. The Military Hall of Honor induction ceremony was part of LSU Salutes, the celebration of the university’s military tradition scheduled near Veterans Day each November. The event also included a military parade, a wreath laying, a 21-gun salute, a fl y over and static displays supplied by the Louisiana National Guard’s 928th Sapper Company from Napoleonville, La.; 239th Military Police Company from Carville, La.; and the 139th Expeditionary Signal Company from Carville, La. The Hall of Honor inductees were selected based on their involvement with the university, as well as military and community service. BATON ROUGE The Louisiana National Guard was praised during a special gala held at Louisiana’s Old Governor’s Mansion for its participation in the famous Sunshine Foundation reading program in Baton Rouge, La., Nov. 17. For the past 12 years, Louisiana’s Guardsmen have been distributing and reading the book “You Are Sunshine” to kindergarteners in public, private and parochial schools throughout the state. “The partnership that we have with the Louisiana National Guard is just phenomenal, especially their enthusiasm, dedication and willingness to work with us throughout the state,” said Beth Philips, who serves as the foundation’s executive director. “We are thankful and appreciative of everything they do.” The foundation’s objectives are to build every child’s self esteem, stress the value of every child, encourage reading by and to young children, and strengthen bonds between adults and young children. CARVILLE After a year-long deployment to Afghanistan, approximately eight Soldiers from the Louisiana Army National Guard’s 415th Military Intelligence Battalion were welcomed home during a special reception at Louisiana Aircraft LLC near the Baton Rouge Airport, Nov. 25. Members of Detachment 2, A Company, out of Carville, La., were greeted by Maj. Gen. Bennett C. Landreneau, the adjutant general of the LANG, and other leadership as they stepped off the helicopters to a crowd of cheering family and friends on Thanksgiving Eve…only minutes before midnight. While deployed, the unit was responsible for conducting tactical intelligence collection missions and gathering important enemy intelligence while conducting interviews in a Joint Interrogation Facility. The information obtained during both of these missions was instrumental in ensuring the safety of United States Soldiers and civilians, and that of the Afghanistan people. NEW ORLEANS Approximately 150 Louisiana National Guardsmen participated in the New Orleans
Saints vs. New England Patriots pregame show, Nov. 30. “We try to honor our troops as much as possible,” said Travis Burkett, Saints senior sales manager for Season Tickets and Sales. “We do what we can to give back.” The Soldiers and Airmen from across the state came marching in with an enormous American fl ag and held it steady during the playing of the National Anthem. Saints personnel provided a buffet style dinner to show their thanks and appreciation to the men and women who serve in the military and who supported their pregame show. BELLE CHASSE The 159th Fighter Wing Logistics Readiness Squadron held a change of command ceremony at Naval Air Station - Joint Reserve Base in New Orleans, Dec. 5. Maj. Timothy C. Vignes assumed command of the 159th LRS in a ceremony presided over by Col. Roy V. Qualls, 159th Fighter Wing commander. During the passing of the colors, Vignes accepted the fl ag from Lt. Col. Brian L. Callahan. Callahan had served in the position since May 2006 and will be continuing his career as the 159th Mission Support Group vice commander. Vignes will have overall responsibility for providing resources through the Supply Section, Logistics Section, Fuels Management Section, Traffi c Management Section and Vehicle Maintenance Section in support of the 159th FW mission and fi ve geographically separated units. PINEVILLE The Louisiana Army National Guard promoted its top warrant offi cer on Nov. 7, at a special ceremony held at the Stafford House on Camp Beauregard in Pineville, La. Kim J. Janneck, of St. Bernard Parish, was promoted to command chief warrant offi cer 5 at a gathering offi ciated by Maj. Gen. Bennett C. Landreneau, the adjutant general for the Louisiana National Guard. Janneck, who has served as the LANG’s command chief warrant offi cer since August, has been praised by many as a hard worker and exemplary Soldier. Janneck joined the LANG in 1986 as a personnel specialist, after serving as an Army civilian since 1978. Since she already had the civilian personnel experience, she entered the military through the civilian-to-warrant program. LAFAYETTE Louisiana National Guard Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Bennett C. Landreneau will presented members of the 39th Military Police Company with Freedom Salute awards in a special ceremony, Nov. 15, at the Hilton in Lafayette, La. The Freedom Salute Ceremony is held in recognition and appreciation of Guardsmen and units deployed in support of Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, Noble Eagle and other peacekeeping operations across the globe. The 39th served in Iraq from 2008 to 2009. In addition to the awards ceremony, the unit attended a weekend of Yellow Ribbon training to help ease the stresses of returning to their civilian lifestyle. During this training, the Soldiers attend classes that focus on helping them transition back to their families, job and/or school and community. NEW ORLEANS Approximately 125 military personnel, representing the U.S. Armed Forces throughout the city of New Orleans, were honored by the New Orleans City Council and Mayor Ray Nagin during the city’s annual celebration of Military Appreciation Day at City Hall, Nov. 19. The event highlighted and recognized the military for its many services to the city and surrounding areas. The Mayor, along with each member of the city council, personally expressed words of gratitude and appreciation for all the men and women who serve in the military. Military Appreciation Day is a special day set aside to give local communities the chance to show their recognition and appreciation of the courage and commitment from those who serve in the military. MINDEN The Louisiana National Guard and members of Webster Parish honored the memory of a local leader and war veteran during a dedication ceremony at Camp Minden in Minden, La., Dec. 9, for retired Army Maj. James E. Bolin Sr. by dedicating Camp Minden’s post headquarters building as Bolin Hall. Bolin, a native of Webster Parish and graduate of the Louisiana State University, started a law practice in Minden and was elected as a state representative for the parish in 1940. He resigned in 1942 and entered the Army where he became a highly decorated veteran serving overseas during World War II, to include working with the prosecution team at the Nuremburg war crime trials. In 1952, he was elected to the 26th Judicial District Court bench and re-elected without opposition in 1954. He was subsequently elected to the Second Circuit Court of Appeal, where he served from 1960-1978. Bolin remained active in the Minden community until his death in March 2002. NEW ORLEANS Louisiana National Guardsmen participated in a video game competition against the then undefeated New Orleans Saints at their training facility in Metairie, La., Dec. 1. The Guardsmen and players were part of the “Pro vs. G.I. Joe” event, playing each other in games such as Call of Duty and Guitar Hero, donated by Best Buy. The Saints were happy to be there and show their off-the-fi eld skills to the Guardsmen after showcasing their on-the-fi eld talents in a win against the New England Patriots the night before. “It is always fun to do events like this,” said cornerback Mike McKenzie. “Supporting and appreciating our Troops is what it’s all about.” PINEVILLE Col. Walter J. Austin, State Chaplain of the Louisiana National Guard, was honored in a retirement ceremony at the Stafford House at Camp Beauregard in Pineville, La., Jan. 9. During the ceremony Austin received the Minuteman Plaque in recognition of 20 years of honorable service. He also received a Meritorious Service Medal and the Louisiana Legion of Merit award. “The real joy I got out of being in the Guard was to be able to minister to the Soldiers,” said Austin. “I baptized and did weddings in the military capacity and on the civilian side with these Soldiers.” Austin conducted his last mass in a military capacity at the Camp Beauregard chapel immediately after the retirement ceremony. BELLE CHASSE The Louisiana Air National Guard welcomed Maj. Roderick Alvendia as their new Staff Judge Advocate during an Oath of Offi ce Ceremony at Naval Air Station – Joint Reserve Base in New Orleans, Jan. 9. After 20 years of service in the Army National Guard, Alvendia embraced the opportunity to become part of the 159th Fighter Wing’s legal team. HAMMOND The Louisiana National Guard marked the opening of its Army Aviation Center with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday, Feb. 10, near the Northshore Regional Airport in Hammond, La. The new center includes a multi-unit readiness center for the 204th Theater Airfi eld Operations Group and the 1st Assault Helicopter Battalion of the 244th Aviation Regiment, a hangar for Detachment 38’s C-12 fi xed-wing aircraft, a maintenance shop and an overall support facility for storage and ground support equipment. The support facility can also serve as an alternate Emergency Operations Center capable to manage disaster relief operations. CARVILLE Louisiana Counter Drug Task Force personnel received accolades from their inspectors during the Counter Drug Program Evaluation out brief at Gillis W. Long Center in Carville, La., on March 4. “Obviously, you have a great team here,” said Lt. Col. Gary W. Lange, Counter Drug Program evaluation chief with the National Guard Bureau. The inspectors look at 11 functional areas to include: Personnel, Drug Demand Reduction, Operations, Logistics, Financial Management, Training, Ground Safety, Joint Substance Abuse Program, Army Aviation, Air Aviation and Armed Operations. Louisiana Guardsmen were inspected in eight of those areas receiving high marks in most and 100 percent in their Operations Section. Spring 2010 / Louisiana National Guard 27
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Page 27: By Sgt. Michael L. Owens, PAO Staff

Pelican Dispatch - Spring 2010 - Keep Trees

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