Free Republic

JOPLIN, Mo. (May 28, 2011) — With the twisted husk of St. John’s Hospital reminding them of the importance of their mission, a group of Missouri National Guardsmen erected a mobile hospital unit in a fraction of the time they were given. Because they were conducting annual training nearby, soldiers of the 117th Engineer Team (Asphalt), of Monett, were on duty conducting search and rescue missions within hours of the tornado hitting Joplin, said Sgt 1st Class Steve White. “We’re here to help relieve the pain,” White said. “We bring a lot of heavy equipment and can get to things...

JOPLIN, Mo. (May 27, 2011) — Gov. Jay Nixon has ordered the Missouri National Guard to supervise the cleanup and debris removal process in Joplin. Citizen-soldiers and airmen were activated immediately following the May 22 tornado and are ready for their new mission, said Maj. Gen. Stephen L. Danner, adjutant general of Missouri. “We are ready for the new mission Gov. Nixon has given us and are prepared to help our friends and family in Joplin in every way we can,” Danner said.

JOPLIN, Mo. (May 27, 2011) — A year ago, the 203rd Engineer Battalion of the Missouri Army National Guard woke up every day in a war zone. That changed Sunday when one of the season’s deadliest tornados blew through this southwest Missouri community of 46,000, leaving behind a path of devastation worse than most of these combat engineers experienced in Afghanistan. Charged with clearing improvised explosive devices from hundreds of kilometers of bumpy, dusty — and dangerous — roads in the war-torn country’s restive east, members of the 203rd served their nation doing one of the hardest jobs in theater....

JOPLIN, Mo. (May 26, 2011) — Some people would call him a hero, but to hear Spc. Jeffrey Price tell it, he was just doing his job. Price, a heavy equipment operator for the Carthage-based 294th Engineer Company of the Missouri Army National Guard, helped rescue dozens of people following Sunday’s deadly storm that left hundreds dead, hundreds more injured and much of this city of about 50,000 people in ruins. Price, 22, was on duty at his job in the automotive department at a local Wal-Mart SuperCenter Sunday as the deadly tornado that flattened area homes, destroyed businesses and...

JOPLIN, Mo. (May 24, 2011) — U.S. Senator Roy Blunt toured the devastating damage today resulting from the recent deadly tornado in Joplin and met with federal and local authorities to ensure that there is a speedy and comprehensive recovery and rebuilding effort under way. "I live about 60 miles from Joplin and have been here hundreds of times. This was a huge path of destruction in one of Missouri's major cities, and I've never seen anything like it. I applaud the federal and local officials for their recovery efforts, and I thank the volunteers who are generously dedicating their...

CARTHAGE, Mo. (May 24, 2011) – The Missouri National Guard continues to work in support of tornado relief operations in Joplin on order from Gov. Jay Nixon. With continued rainfall, the Missouri National Guard task force continues operations in Joplin with approximately 220 Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen spread over the affected areas, said task force operations officer Maj. Michael Seek, training and plans officer with the 35th Engineer Brigade. “At this point, our concern is the safety of the citizens of Joplin,” Seek said. “This is an important mission. Our goal is to help support the local first responders as they...

PULASKI COUNTY, Mo. (May 24, 2011) — Members of the Pulaski County Tourism Board voted Tuesday evening to make a $10,000 donation to disaster relief in Joplin, provided that a legal review verifies that special non-tax funds maintained by the tourism bureau can be used for that purpose. Most of the tourism bureau’s money comes from a special transient guest tax collected from people who stay in the county’s hotels, motels and other lodging facilities and must be used to support local tourism. However, the tourism bureau also has additional money from a variety of sources that isn’t subject to...

JOPLIN, Mo. (May 23, 2011) — A Sunday night tornado striking Joplin has led to the mobilization of the Missouri National Guard. St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Joplin, two fire stations, and Joplin High School were among the public buildings damaged or destroyed by the tornado, along with commercial business areas. Casualty totals are still unknown but preliminary reports include 89 dead. “As soon as we heard the news of the tornados, the Missouri National Guard began mobilization activities,” said Maj. Gen. Stephen L. Danner, adjutant general of the Missouri National Guard, in a prepared statement. “The 35th Engineer...

CARTHAGE, Mo. (May 23, 2011) – Immediately after being activated by Gov. Jay Nixon, the Missouri National Guard began tornado relief operations in Joplin. Approximately 140 Guardsmen are assisting in search and rescue missions in support of local authorities, and are expected to conduct a number of missions in the upcoming days including emergency route clearance, communications support, door-to-door safety visits and security. Among those responding are the soldiers of the 117th Engineer Team, of Monett, and 294th Engineer Company, of Carthage and Anderson. Additionally, a Joint Task Force Communications Kit out of Jefferson City is in route to assist...

PULASKI COUNTY, Mo. (May 23, 2011) — When a New Years’ Eve tornado struck Fort Leonard Wood, donations poured in to help numerous soldiers and families who lost their homes even though nobody was killed. Less than a day after a major tornado struck Joplin and killed at least 89 people, Pulaski County Presiding Commissioner Gene Newkirk, Pulaski County Sheriff J.B. King and Pulaski County Ambulance Director Gary Carmack announced that they’re working to send emergency supplies as well as trained personnel to provide emergency relief in Joplin.

Westboro Baptist Church members did not show up on Sunday afternoon in Joplin as expected. But thousands of Joplin supporters did show up and lined the streets armed with signs that declare, "God Loves Joplin," just in case. The extremist Westboro group, known for picketing at funerals of military officers, had announced earlier that they would protest in Joplin, Mo., on Sunday against President Obama, who spoke at a memorial service for tornado victims. In the group's press release, they also claim that Joplin was hit by a tornado as God's punishment for the sins of residents. But when Sunday...

Police escorted the Westboro member to safety and used tear gas to control the crowd.

Watch the video HERE.

Classy as always… Obama sits in front row and chews gum during the sermon at the Joplin Memorial Service. Maybe he learned this at his Trinity Church? VIDEO Nicorette gum? Pastor Aaron Brown from Joplin gave a powerful sermon today at the Joplin Memorial Service.

After the sermon was delivered at the Joplin, MO tornado memorial service, President Obama, who was sitting in the front row, was clearly scene chewing on something.

President Barack Obama is pivoting from diplomacy on the world stage to the intimate and delicate domestic task of acting as healer-in-chief to a devastated community. The president travels to tornado-wrecked Joplin, Mo., on Sunday, a day after returning from a six-day European tour of Ireland, England, France and Poland. After days of focusing on the U.S. relationship with the rest of the world, he'll turn to an even more critical connection: his own, with the American people. The president will visit with survivors and family members of the worst tornado in decades, a monster storm that tore through Joplin...

Tornadoes have been tearing through the heart of America causing tremendous tragedy and devastation. One of the many heartbreaking stories comes from the recent twister that devastated Joplin earlier this week. Don Lansaw gave his life to protect and save his young wife, Bethany Lansaw, when the tornado tore through their house. What an amazing story of selfless love and devotion, the kind of love that God calls us to. “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13 Bethany is a Christian and needs our prayers now more than ever....

45 Seconds: Memoirs of an ER Doctor from May 22, 2011. My name is Dr. Kevin Kikta, and I was one of two emergency room doctors who were on duty at St. John’s Regional MedicalCenter in Joplin, MO on Sunday May 22,2011. You never know that it will be the most important day of your life until the day is over. The day started like any other day for me: waking up, eating, going to the gym, showering, and going to my 400pm ER shift. As I drove to the hospital I mentally prepared for my shift as I always...

Will Norton was the young man who had just graduated from high school when the Joplin tornado hit. He was pulled through the sunroof of his SUV while his dad tried in vain to hold onto him. A massive search for him has been underway since last Sunday. His family is reporting tonight on Facebook that sadly his body was found today. :*(

The Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) has found a new group of people to rally against. The Kansas church, most infamous for its hatred of homosexuals, posted a document last Monday on its website celebrating the deaths of the Joplin, Missouri tornado victims. “Thank God for 89 dead & counting in Joplin, Mo & 1 dead in Reading, KS!” the document declared in capital letters. “God’s whirlwind is pounding the enemies of Christ! WBC will picket your raging blasphemous stinky memorials!”