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thedrifter
09-04-08, 05:36 AM
Marines on the move

By Marcus Howard
Marietta Daily Journal Staff Writer

MARIETTA - In the wake of Hurricane Gustav, Marietta's Naval Air Station Atlanta has become the temporary home of Marines who had to evacuate with millions of others from coastal Louisiana.


About 100 Marines from the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing headquarters located at Naval Support Activity in New Orleans, along with their families and pets, packed their belongings Saturday ahead of the huricanne and drove their personal vehicles nearly eight hours to Marietta.

About 30 employees who work in the 4th MAW headquarters also came to Marietta. They include key personnel who work in a range of positions, from operational planning and logistics to aircraft maintenance. Approximately 70 Marines from the Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 773 Detachment C came as well. Marietta serves as the unit's safe haven whenever they need to evacuate due to destructive weather.

They arrived Saturday afternoon and joined their fellow marines from the 4th MAW who are permanently stationed at NAS Atlanta - Marine Air Group-49 Detachment A and the Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 773 .

There are also a number of marines stationed in Marietta just north of Dobbins Air Reserve Base from the 4th Marine Logistics Group from New Orleans, which is another large component of the Marine Forces Reserve.

"Right now we're focusing on when we can return to New Orleans," said Capt. Bill Butters, an aide-de-camp to 4th MAW commanding officer Brig. Gen. John Croley.

"We're continuing the planning for supporting ongoing operations that the Marine Corp tasks us to support, whether it be in Iraq or training operations here in the United States. That continues, that doesn't stop just because we relocated to Marietta."

Sgt. Maj. Brad Ashley, who also evacuated from New Orleans, said the unit also moved a number of light attack helicopters up from New Orleans to Marietta to avoid damage from the hurricane.

"Obviously, there was the wind and a potential for flooding down there," Ashley said.

The 4th MAW is comprised of more than 6,200 marines, sailors and civilian personnel stationed around the country. Those stationed in New Orleans evacuated with their families primarily to metro Atlanta, Texas and Baton Rouge before Gustav made landfall as a Category 2 storm Monday, dropping torrential rain on the city that was flooded in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina struck.

Although Gustav caused major power outages and left an estimated $2 billion to $10 billion in damages to covered properties, officials reported the city's levee system held up.Butters said the sight of New Orleans before they marines left was something unsual for him.

"They were starting to board up the windows down on Bourbon Street and throughout the city. It was somewhat of an eerie feeling seeing those reminders of Katrina that we all saw on the news," Butter said.

"But, since the order was given to leave ahead of the main crowd it was easy to get out. It was calm."

Ashley described the marines' evacuation as an "orderly version of a gypsy caravan."

Though residents are allowed to return home early Thursday, Butters said the group doesn't know when it will return to New Orleans. He said they will be in Marietta for the foreseeable future.

"We appreciate the good people of Marietta supporting us," he said.


mhoward@mdjonline.com

Ellie