Helicopters at Dawn
Tuesday morning, September 6th
It was still dark this morning when my nephew Nathan and I entered the airplane hanger the Air National Guard is using as its base at the Baton Rouge airport. I had been invited to take part in an interfaith service for the troops, along with my friend, Rev. Steve Crump from the Unitarian Church
The service never took place. The troops began to move out ahead of schedule, so there was no time. We chatted with some of the soldiers and watched them load their helicopters. As the sun rose we could see that there were thirty or forty helicopters out on the tarmac.
The chaplain told us that many of the troops were based in New Orleans. These soldiers have just returned from Iraq. Many of their own homes are under water. Their base was flooded and much of their equipment was unsalvageable. They are being joined by Border Patrol officers from Texas and Oklahoma.
The heartbreaking part is that these soldiers do not have the basic supplies they need to do their job safely. They need hand sanitizer in large quantities. Soldiers have already contracted dysentery operating in New Orleans. Vicks Vapo Rub or some other mentholated ointment is needed. The soldiers put the ointment in their noses to overpower their ability to smell. There are no funnels to put oil in the choppers. There are not enough ATV’s or “mules” to ferry the heavy compressors out onto the tarmac after they have been repaired. The soldiers have to carry them.
Nathan took on the Guard as his project. He and Martha went out and bought all the hand sanitizer they could find. Walgreen’s gave them a steep discount. Nathan is using his sources to scrounge more supplies and will be sending out an appeal to the congregation.
Despite the lack of equipment. Despite the fact that FEMA brushed off the Guard officers when they called begging for supplies, these men and women are doing their job.
Watching those hulking Blackhawks flying away from Baton Rouge against the blood red sun made me proud. The failures of the federal government make me ashamed.
It was still dark this morning when my nephew Nathan and I entered the airplane hanger the Air National Guard is using as its base at the Baton Rouge airport. I had been invited to take part in an interfaith service for the troops, along with my friend, Rev. Steve Crump from the Unitarian Church
The service never took place. The troops began to move out ahead of schedule, so there was no time. We chatted with some of the soldiers and watched them load their helicopters. As the sun rose we could see that there were thirty or forty helicopters out on the tarmac.
The chaplain told us that many of the troops were based in New Orleans. These soldiers have just returned from Iraq. Many of their own homes are under water. Their base was flooded and much of their equipment was unsalvageable. They are being joined by Border Patrol officers from Texas and Oklahoma.
The heartbreaking part is that these soldiers do not have the basic supplies they need to do their job safely. They need hand sanitizer in large quantities. Soldiers have already contracted dysentery operating in New Orleans. Vicks Vapo Rub or some other mentholated ointment is needed. The soldiers put the ointment in their noses to overpower their ability to smell. There are no funnels to put oil in the choppers. There are not enough ATV’s or “mules” to ferry the heavy compressors out onto the tarmac after they have been repaired. The soldiers have to carry them.
Nathan took on the Guard as his project. He and Martha went out and bought all the hand sanitizer they could find. Walgreen’s gave them a steep discount. Nathan is using his sources to scrounge more supplies and will be sending out an appeal to the congregation.
Despite the lack of equipment. Despite the fact that FEMA brushed off the Guard officers when they called begging for supplies, these men and women are doing their job.
Watching those hulking Blackhawks flying away from Baton Rouge against the blood red sun made me proud. The failures of the federal government make me ashamed.
posted by Rabbi Stanton M. Zamek at
8:31 PM
3 Comments:
Rabbi
When I first saw the e-mail asking for funnels and gloves I thought it was a (perhaps bad?) joke. Are you serious that the National Guard is needing these basic supplies that can be purchased at Wal-Mart?
If this is serious, you should ask at the Fieldhouse and PMAC on the LSU campus. I personally help unload a bunch of medical supplies.
Regards,
Kenny Rose
This is, in fact, a serious request. They are in need of these most basic supplies.
My wife and I along with another concerened citizen dropped off about $200 in hand sanitizer, asprin and rollaids. We came back the next day and they said it was almost gone.
We also brought two pair of nail clippers. I have never seen someone so enthused over such a simple item.
They said they are going to tether them to the desk so they can be used by all.
Sad but true.
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