Citizen-Soldiers volunteer to transport FEMA housing units

Photo By Sgt. Michael Owens | BATON ROUGE, La. – Two Soldiers from the Louisiana Army National Guard watch as a Federal Emergency Management Agency worker places a housing unit, or COGIM, onto the trailer of their vehicle at a FEMA site in Baton Rouge, La., Aug. 13. The Guardmembers are part of a mission that is assisting FEMA with transporting the COGIMs from Fort Worth, Texas; Baton Rouge, La.; and Selma, Ala., to Camp Minden, La., where they will be stored and readied for future emergencies. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Michael L. Owens, 241st Mobile Public Affairs Detachment Unit Public Affairs Representative)  

UNITED STATES

12.03.2008

Story by Sgt. Michael Owens 

Louisiana National Guard

By Sgt. Robin C. Carpenter and Sgt. Michael L. Owens
Louisiana National Guard

CARVILLE, La. – In this age of technology, lots of work can be done with the use of computers, robots and the internet. But when those assets cannot handle the job, the Louisiana National Guard's 165th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion truck drivers and heavy equipment operators step in to save the day.

Soldiers from the 1083rd and 1086th Transportation Companies offered to help the 1084th Transportation Company with a mission for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Having the only long-distance M-915 vehicles in the state, this unit was a useful asset when FEMA called upon Louisiana in a time of need. Although they are located throughout the state, these three units bonded together to help a federal friend.

"Since FEMA helped so many of us following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, it became our duty to help when they called us," said Sgt. 1st Class Norbert D. Dounseroux, a New Orleans resident and the mission's non-commissioned officer-in-charge.

In June, these Soldiers began assisting FEMA with moving more than 400 modular office and housing units, known as COGIMs, from Fort Worth, Texas, and Baton Rouge, La., to Camp Minden, La., to consolidate them for easier access during an emergency. In addition, more than 100 trailers filled with emergency housing supplies, furniture, appliances and linens needed to be moved and readied for use in the case of future national emergencies.

Command Sgt. Maj. Frank J. Robinson, 165th rear detachment senior enlisted adviser, helped coordinate the mission to ensure the Soldiers had the necessary resources to successfully accomplish the mission.

"We had about 30 Soldiers and 10 trucks moving constantly to make this mission happen. It was believed that we were capable of handling this not only efficiently but more effectively than civilian contractors and I think that we showed that to be true," said the Keithville, La., native.

Since these Guard members performed their duties so well, FEMA requested to extend their duty so that supplies could be brought into Louisiana from Selma, Ala.

"This is a very important mission that should be completed with efficiency," said 1084th unit member Staff Sgt. Joseph J. Hooker, of New Orleans. "In the long run, our contribution to the state will have helped a lot of our fellow citizens in need."

• Date Taken: 12.03.2008
• Date Posted: 12.03.2008 16:02
• Story ID: 27155
• Location: US