thedrifter
09-03-05, 01:34 PM
MarForRes Marines persevere despite catastrophe
Marine Forces Reserve
Story by Cpl. Enrique Saenz
JOINT RESERVE BASE FORT WORTH, Tex.- (Sep. 3, 2005) -- Violent winds, rain and tidal surges can take lives and destroy property, but Marine Forces Reserve Marines proved that they can’t stop Marines from accomplishing their mission.
Hurricane Katrina, a Category-4 hurricane, ravaged the Gulf Coast bringing death and devastation from Louisiana to the panhandle of Florida, killing hundreds of people and causing billions of dollars in damages.
Katrina destroyed city after city and paid special attention to the historic city of New Orleans, the location of Marine Forces Reserve Headquarters, leaving about 80 percent of the city under water including areas around the base.
Prior to the hurricane’s landfall, the MarForRes Marines evacuated and have begun to relocate to Naval Air Station/Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth to continue supporting their Reserve Marines and Sailors stationed throughout the world.
“Right now, our focus is on accountability and establishing our former routine to support Force Marines, Sailors and their families,” said SgtMaj. Thomas T. Bryant, MarForRes Headquarters Battalion sergeant major. “It’s important to have a fast turnaround. Marines depend on us. We are all in a kind of state of shock, and the quicker we return to normalcy and our prior routine the better for our people’s mental state.”
Marine Forces Reserve serves as the nerve center for all Reserve Marine activity and is crucial to supporting military commitments worldwide. The Marines were more than willing to stand their posts, but never far from their mind was the thought of their personal sacrifices.
“Even though some (Marines and Sailors) have lost a lot because of the hurricane we have to remember that as bad as it was, we’re in a lot better shape than most people,”
said Master Sgt. Brett A. Villarrubia, Hq. Bn , operations chief. “Homes were destroyed and property was damaged, but we still have our families and we’re still getting paid. We could have been in a completely worse situation.”
To some Marines, the evacuation was a testament to the importance of the occupational specialties.
“The (Marines and Sailors) are getting the opportunity to see first-hand what the Marine Corps would be like without their individual military occupational specialty (MOS),” said Bryant. “The Marine Corps will find it very difficult to function when a part of the whole thing is missing.”
Marine Forces Reserve will continue to be located in NAS/JRB Fort Worth indefinitely.
Ellie
Marine Forces Reserve
Story by Cpl. Enrique Saenz
JOINT RESERVE BASE FORT WORTH, Tex.- (Sep. 3, 2005) -- Violent winds, rain and tidal surges can take lives and destroy property, but Marine Forces Reserve Marines proved that they can’t stop Marines from accomplishing their mission.
Hurricane Katrina, a Category-4 hurricane, ravaged the Gulf Coast bringing death and devastation from Louisiana to the panhandle of Florida, killing hundreds of people and causing billions of dollars in damages.
Katrina destroyed city after city and paid special attention to the historic city of New Orleans, the location of Marine Forces Reserve Headquarters, leaving about 80 percent of the city under water including areas around the base.
Prior to the hurricane’s landfall, the MarForRes Marines evacuated and have begun to relocate to Naval Air Station/Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth to continue supporting their Reserve Marines and Sailors stationed throughout the world.
“Right now, our focus is on accountability and establishing our former routine to support Force Marines, Sailors and their families,” said SgtMaj. Thomas T. Bryant, MarForRes Headquarters Battalion sergeant major. “It’s important to have a fast turnaround. Marines depend on us. We are all in a kind of state of shock, and the quicker we return to normalcy and our prior routine the better for our people’s mental state.”
Marine Forces Reserve serves as the nerve center for all Reserve Marine activity and is crucial to supporting military commitments worldwide. The Marines were more than willing to stand their posts, but never far from their mind was the thought of their personal sacrifices.
“Even though some (Marines and Sailors) have lost a lot because of the hurricane we have to remember that as bad as it was, we’re in a lot better shape than most people,”
said Master Sgt. Brett A. Villarrubia, Hq. Bn , operations chief. “Homes were destroyed and property was damaged, but we still have our families and we’re still getting paid. We could have been in a completely worse situation.”
To some Marines, the evacuation was a testament to the importance of the occupational specialties.
“The (Marines and Sailors) are getting the opportunity to see first-hand what the Marine Corps would be like without their individual military occupational specialty (MOS),” said Bryant. “The Marine Corps will find it very difficult to function when a part of the whole thing is missing.”
Marine Forces Reserve will continue to be located in NAS/JRB Fort Worth indefinitely.
Ellie