thedrifter
09-20-05, 12:38 PM
September 26, 2005
City’s reservists scatter out and about the U.S.
By Christian Lowe
Times staff writer
While Hurricane Katrina left the grounds of Marine Forces Reserve headquarters in the heart of New Orleans largely unscathed, leathernecks assigned to units there continue to work out of makeshift command posts scattered throughout the country.
Marines were evacuated from the headquarters just before Katrina hit, leaving behind a small detachment of Marines to keep the post going and to guard against looters.
Command groups for major Reserve units — about 850 Marines — were evacuated to locations stretching from Texas to Georgia and continue to support Reserve forces deployed to Iraq and those helping with relief efforts along the Katrina-ravaged Gulf Coast, said Capt. Chris Logan, a Reserve spokesman.
It is unclear how long the command groups will continue operations in their makeshift homes, but once New Orleans gives the “all clear” for residents to return to the city, the Marines will soon follow, Logan said.
“We have to be in lock step with the city,” Logan said. “But we’re prepared to run the commands out of these places indefinitely.”
The bulk of the Reserve’s headquarters has moved to Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas. Some of the headquarters Marines, however, were evacuated to Marine Corps Mobilization Command in Kansas City, Mo., where they’ll remain until the New Orleans headquarters is back up and running.
The interim command post for 4th Marine Division is in Grand Prairie, Texas, in spaces usually occupied by the headquarters unit for 2nd Battalion, 14th Marines.
The division commander, Maj. Gen. Douglas O’Dell, is leading a special purpose Marine task force devoted to recovery efforts in the Gulf region. While O’Dell manages the Corps’ Katrina relief efforts, the day-to-day operations of the division are being run by Col. Thomas Sward, 4th MarDiv chief of staff.
The 4th Marine Logistics Group has been relocated to spaces used by Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 42 in Marietta, Ga., while operations for 4th Marine Aircraft Wing are being run out of Naval Air Station Atlanta, Logan said.
Many Reserve units are participating in the Katrina cleanup, including helicopter squadrons, Assault amphibian units and new anti-terrorism battalion Marines. Their day-to-day support comes from Joint Task Force Katrina headquarters, while the MarForRes staff concentrates on gearing units up for Iraq rotations and other missions, Logan said.
“Nothing has changed as far as our responsibilities here and around the world,” Logan said. “We still have forces getting ready to go, going and coming back.
“Work has not stopped — it’s still business as usual.”
John Hoellwarth contributed to this report.
Ellie
City’s reservists scatter out and about the U.S.
By Christian Lowe
Times staff writer
While Hurricane Katrina left the grounds of Marine Forces Reserve headquarters in the heart of New Orleans largely unscathed, leathernecks assigned to units there continue to work out of makeshift command posts scattered throughout the country.
Marines were evacuated from the headquarters just before Katrina hit, leaving behind a small detachment of Marines to keep the post going and to guard against looters.
Command groups for major Reserve units — about 850 Marines — were evacuated to locations stretching from Texas to Georgia and continue to support Reserve forces deployed to Iraq and those helping with relief efforts along the Katrina-ravaged Gulf Coast, said Capt. Chris Logan, a Reserve spokesman.
It is unclear how long the command groups will continue operations in their makeshift homes, but once New Orleans gives the “all clear” for residents to return to the city, the Marines will soon follow, Logan said.
“We have to be in lock step with the city,” Logan said. “But we’re prepared to run the commands out of these places indefinitely.”
The bulk of the Reserve’s headquarters has moved to Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas. Some of the headquarters Marines, however, were evacuated to Marine Corps Mobilization Command in Kansas City, Mo., where they’ll remain until the New Orleans headquarters is back up and running.
The interim command post for 4th Marine Division is in Grand Prairie, Texas, in spaces usually occupied by the headquarters unit for 2nd Battalion, 14th Marines.
The division commander, Maj. Gen. Douglas O’Dell, is leading a special purpose Marine task force devoted to recovery efforts in the Gulf region. While O’Dell manages the Corps’ Katrina relief efforts, the day-to-day operations of the division are being run by Col. Thomas Sward, 4th MarDiv chief of staff.
The 4th Marine Logistics Group has been relocated to spaces used by Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 42 in Marietta, Ga., while operations for 4th Marine Aircraft Wing are being run out of Naval Air Station Atlanta, Logan said.
Many Reserve units are participating in the Katrina cleanup, including helicopter squadrons, Assault amphibian units and new anti-terrorism battalion Marines. Their day-to-day support comes from Joint Task Force Katrina headquarters, while the MarForRes staff concentrates on gearing units up for Iraq rotations and other missions, Logan said.
“Nothing has changed as far as our responsibilities here and around the world,” Logan said. “We still have forces getting ready to go, going and coming back.
“Work has not stopped — it’s still business as usual.”
John Hoellwarth contributed to this report.
Ellie