Hurricane Katrina update.

[thedrifter]

September 02, 2005
Troops begin combat operations in New Orleans
By Joseph R. Chenelly
Times staff writer

NEW ORLEANS — Combat operations are underway on the streets “to take this city back” in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

“This place is going to look like Little Somalia,” Brig. Gen. Gary Jones, commander of the Louisiana National Guard’s Joint Task Force told Army Times Friday as hundreds of armed troops under his charge prepared to launch a massive citywide security mission from a staging area outside the Louisiana Superdome. “We’re going to go out and take this city back. This will be a combat operation to get this city under control.”

Jones said the military first needs to establish security throughout the city. Military and police officials have said there are several large areas of the city are in a full state of anarchy.

Dozens of military trucks and up-armored Humvees left the staging area just after 11 a.m. Friday, while hundreds more troops arrived at the same staging area in the city via Black Hawk and Chinook helicopters.

“We’re here to do whatever they need us to do,” Sgt. 1st Class Ron Dixon, of the Oklahoma National Guard’s 1345th Transportation Company. “We packed to stay as long as it takes.”

While some fight the insurgency in the city, other carry on with rescue and evacuation operations. Helicopters are still pulling hundreds of stranded people from rooftops of flooded homes.

Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and police helicopters filled the city sky Friday morning. Most had armed soldiers manning the doors. According to Petty Officer 3rd Class Jeremy Grishamn, a spokesman for the amphibious assault ship Bataan, the vessel kept its helicopters at sea Thursday night after several military helicopters reported being shot at from the ground.

Numerous soldiers also told Army Times that they have been shot at by armed civilians in New Orleans. Spokesmen for the Joint Task Force Headquarters at the Superdome were unaware of any servicemen being wounded in the streets, although one soldier is recovering from a gunshot wound sustained during a struggle with a civilian in the dome Wednesday night.

“I never thought that at a National Guardsman I would be shot at by other Americans,” said Spc. Philip Baccus of the 527th Engineer Battalion. “And I never thought I’d have to carry a rifle when on a hurricane relief mission. This is a disgrace.”

Spc. Cliff Ferguson of the 527th Engineer Battalion pointed out that he knows there are plenty of decent people in New Orleans, but he said it is hard to stay motivated considering the circumstances.

“This is making a lot of us think about not reenlisting.” Ferguson said. “You have to think about whether it is worth risking your neck for someone who will turn around and shoot at you. We didn’t come here to fight a war. We came here to help.”

Ellie

[thedrifter]

Hotlines connect service members to loved ones
By Karen Jowers
Times staff writer

Military families are among the victims of Hurricane Katrina, and the services and other organizations are reaching out to help.

Some families’ service members are deployed in Iraq or Afghanistan, or activated to help in the hurricane. The services have set up hotlines for family members to call and leave information about their whereabouts, and their welfare. In addition, service members or others can call to check on their family members.

“Anyone calling that number can give information or get information,” said Jack Harrison, a spokesman for the National Guard Bureau, referring to that bureau’s toll-free number, which links to the family program office: 888-777-7731.

Communications are sparse in these areas, but officials will do their best to assist. Other toll-free numbers set up include:

• Navy Hurricane Information Helpline: 877-414-5358. Staffed 24 hours by active-duty Navy volunteers.

• Keesler Air Force Base Telephone Helpline: 800-435-9941.

Other resources include:

• Military OneSource, 800-342-9647, or www.militaryonesource.com, provides referral and resources and counseling.

• www.defenselink.mil

• Federal Emergency Management Administration, www.fema.gov.

• Next of Kin Registry, nokr.org, designed to help if you or your family member is missing, injured or deceased.

• American Red Cross, www.redcross.org

The Veterans of Foreign Wars, www.vfw.org, has launched a donation campaign to help victims of the hurricane, including military families. “Many of the National Guard, Air National Guard and reservists in the affected areas are deployed,” said VFW National Commander James R. Mueller in a prepared statement. “It is heart-breaking for those families who have loved ones deployed to have to cope with such a disaster by themselves. It also is a tragic situation for those service men and women who are deployed thousands of miles away from the disaster and are unable to contribute any help to their suffering families. …. The VFW must go to extraordinary means to ensure our troops that we will take care of their families while they are deployed.”

Donation checks to the VFW should be clearly marked for disaster relief, and sent to:

• Precilla Wilkewitz, Adjutant; Department of Louisiana, VFW, 10185 Mammoth Avenue; G Baton Rouge, LA 70814-4421; or

• Johnnie L. Richard, Adjutant, Department of Mississippi, VFW, P.O. Box 2027, Jackson, MS, 39225; or

• Travis E. Whaley, Adjutant, Department of Alabama, VFW, P.O. Box 231177, Montgomery, AL, 36123-1177.

The American Legion’s 24-hour family assistance hotline, 800-504-4098, is available, but as of Sept. 1 officials were having trouble reaching their posts in the affected areas, said spokesman Joe March.

The Legion was scheduled to begin offering $1,500 grants from their national emergency fund to Legion members for displacement costs, on the afternoon of Sept. 2. A number of active-duty members in the affected areas are Legion members, March said. The toll- free number is 800-433-3318; applications can be made at www.legion.org. The fund was established in 1969 in the wake of Hurricane Camille. March said they intend to turn around requests quickly, within hours, to help with lodging, food and other costs. The money can be deposited to a credit card, or wired directly to a hotel, upon approval.

Ellie

[Rebsmarine1996]

Checking in From Alabama.... All is well here.... My Husband( Camshaft.... for those who have met him in Chat) is In Mississippi with his National Guard unit, and My Brother Who is in the Marines( Barnball) said he will most likely be on his way to New Orleans By the end of this weekend. I am holding down the Fort here with My three little ones Counting so Many Blessings right now, and Praying for the safety of my loved ones as they answer the calls for help.
Semper Fideles,
Rebs

[Old Marine]

Sure hope the Red Cross is doing a better job than they did in 1953 in Korea. We had an alert that the North Koreans were crossing the Imjin River into the south and therefor we spent four days and three nights in the Tank Park living in fighting holes to protect our assets. The Red Cross (God bless them) went to our mess hall, got doughnuts and proceeded to sell them to us.

Since that time I have had no use for the Red Cross.

[Joseph P Carey]

You do know that is funny! It is true, but it is funny!

When I was being transported back to the USA from Vietnam, the last time I was hit, the C130 I was on stopped in Fairbanks I think, as I was on a stretcher in the back of the plane, that was what I was told.

When suddenly, the back door of the C130 dropped and all the cold air I had not felt in months rolled into the plane, a little old lady in a Red Cross Uniform with a coffee cart came up the ramp with hot coffee and donuts.

We were all hungry and with the cold wind blowing over the thin sheet I had over my body as the only protection I had against the cold wind, I and the others sure could have used the hot coffee as well.

I asked the lady if I could have a cup of coffee, and she said sure, and poured me a cup and handed it to me, and said, "That will be Seventy-five cents please."

I was dumb-founded! I looked at the lady and I said, "Lady, does it look like any of us have any money on us?"

She said, "Sorry!" and she took back the cup of coffee from me.

The plane erupted with jeers and catcalls from the stretchers and the Air Force Personnel escorted the lady off of the plane for her protection and the door was closed.

When we landed next in California, a gentleman from the Salvation Army came on board the plane and handed out cups of coffee and donuts to the wounded, no charge!

Since that day, I have never given one dime to the Red Cross, but I have made many dollars of contributions to the Salvation Army.

[Old Marine]

Most military people know where the Red Cross can go.

[yellowwing]

Police Shoot 8 on New Orleans Bridge
Associated Press 4 September 2005
NEW ORLEANS - Police shot eight people carrying guns on a New Orleans bridge Sunday, killing five or six of them, a deputy chief said.

Deputy Police Chief W.J. Riley said the shootings took place on the Danziger Bridge, which connects Lake Pontchartrain and the Mississippi River.

He said he had no other details.

Outstanding! A little backing and firepower is doing wonders for the NOPD.

[nc.gal]

I was shocked as how the American Red Cross treated you Marines. I always thought they "helped" , rather than selling back to you. Sure hope this is not their policey today. What do they do with all the "money" that is donated to them!!!! Hopefully they aren't buying food and water and re-selling it in chow lines. Think I'll support the Salvation Army from now on.

[Joseph P Carey]

The truth is, when the Red Cross assists any people in a state for any disaster, when all is said and done, they bill the state for their services to their residents.

[mrbsox]

I've been on the receiving end of the Red Cross before, after an apartment fire put 10 families on the street, us included.

Throughout the ordeal, we found out that ALL of the donations that were put out by the community go into a central fund. ALl of the 'gifts' from the RC are under a preset structure of stuff. You get NO CASH, but VOUCHERS for stuff, good at most Dept stores like K or Wal marts.

I felt 'ILL' towards the R.C. for a long time, but have since determined that they do a better 'STRUCTURED' job of taking care of peoples needs. They ARE NOT there to get you back on your feet, just help you start over, yourself.

I give to the Red Cross, as well as the Salvation Army. I think they BOTH have there specific 'nitch' where they excell.

But... just help ONE of these organizations help out the gulf coast. It don't matter which one.

Terry

[Old Marine]

Originally posted by yellowwing
Police Shoot 8 on New Orleans Bridge
Associated Press 4 September 2005
NEW ORLEANS - Police shot eight people carrying guns on a New Orleans bridge Sunday, killing five or six of them, a deputy chief said.

Deputy Police Chief W.J. Riley said the shootings took place on the Danziger Bridge, which connects Lake Pontchartrain and the Mississippi River.

He said he had no other details.

Outstanding! A little backing and firepower is doing wonders for the NOPD.

Saw on the news that these locals were firing at the engineers that were in the process of repairing the breeched levee.

[Ed Palmer]

Three tons of food ready for delivery by air to refugees in St. Bernard Parish and on Algiers Point sat on the Crescent City Connection bridge Friday afternoon as air traffic was halted because of President Bush’s visit to New Orleans," the Times-Picayune reports.

[Ed Palmer]

I don't know if the Red Cross story is true or not, I hope it is. But as someone with no love for the Red Cross I'm glad it's about time that somone else reconizes the Red Cross for what it is.

A money sucking organization that fattens itself first and any crumbs left over, well maybe.

Giving money to the Red Cross to parapharse Sen Jessie Helms, it's "...like throwing money down a rat hole".

[GunnyL]

The Red Cross does an excellent job of getting help where it's needed. When you give to the Red Cross, you have a choice of which fund you are giving to. You can specify Hurricane Relief 2005 when you give your donation. You can also choose to put it in the National Fund and any other disaster specific funds you choose to donate to.
On a National Level, I only give to the Red Cross and Salvation Army and on an International scale, I only give to the Red Cross and CARE. Of all the Relief Operations I've been on, the Red Cross / Red Crescent (Muslim Equivalent) were always onsite providing Relief and CARE was always there in force as well. Also, you need to look at the Overhead that is taken out of your funds so you know how much of your dollar actually goes to help victims and how much goes to operational expenses. If CARE is going to be in the Hurricane Relief here, I would donate money to them as well, I believe 98 cents of every dollar given to care actually goes to help the people you are sending aid to.
When I was living in Grand Forks North Dakota as a Teenager, we had to deal with the Red River overflowing levees every year there was excessive snow fall. The Red Cross was always onsite both working and providing food and comfort items to the victims and the volunteers working to sandbag homes and reinforce the dykes and levees. I've seen them in action and I like what I've seen. They also provide classes on CPR and other emergency response functions to communities Nationwide.

GunnyL

[Sgtj]

Ok ya'll I'm back, I'll send some updates and maybe some photo's ASAP, I haven't had time to read all the msg's but I will. Thanks for all your support Marines.

Semper Fi.

Keith (SGTJ)