Posted on 08/30/2005 5:02:31 PM PDT by WestTexasWend
BAGHDAD, Iraq (Aug. 30) - Ever since Hurricane Katrina roared ashore, National Guard troops from Gulf coast states serving in Iraq have followed the disaster unfolding on television sets, worried about families and friends back home.
"It's a significant emotional event. Their families are on the forefront of the disaster," said Lt. Col. Jordan Jones of the 141st Field Artillery of the Louisiana National Guard.
"They're all watching TV and some have seen their neighborhoods completely submerged in water."
Jones, from Luling on the west bank of Lake Pontchartrain, said he hasn't been in touch with his own family for three days because of clogged phone lines, but that his neighbors had helped board up their home.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsday.com ...
That would be rough to be that far from home and find out your family may be missing.
Amen.
This has to be extremely hard emotionally for the gulf state guard and reserve units. Also members of the standing military whose homes and loved ones are affected by Katrina. My sincerest prayers for these service members and their families.
There are probably going to be a good number of military personnel having to return home from Iraq on emergency leave.
Funerals and natural disasters... G-d forbid if a Louisiana or Mississippi national guard unit is currently in Iraq. The entire unit would be on emergency leave.
Of 11K NAtional Guard and Reserve troops in LA, 3K are in OIF and the remainder, I assume, will soon be called up to do thier National Guard, save the day, support the home front 'thing' = good on 'em.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.