Photo By Tech. Sgt. Brian Cox | Spc. Joseph Casaday, a member of Company D, 334th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd...... read more read more
By Tech. Sgt. Brian Cox
Iowa Air National Guard
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Less than a week after being notified of his Iowa National Guard unit's activation to assist federal, state, and local authorities in support of the 56th Presidential Inauguration, Spc. Joseph Casaday, of Company D, 334th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, Sioux City, Iowa, found himself on a bus, bound for Washington D.C.
After a 23-hour trip, one flat tire, and a relentless snow storm that seemed to follow them continuously from Des Moines, Iowa, to the nation's capitol, Casaday and his fellow Iowans arrived safely.
After settling into their quarters and establishing a command and control post, the Soldiers then began familiarizing themselves with their surroundings. Street intersections that could potentially become traffic bottlenecks were identified and a system of troop placement and communication were established. Iowa service members walked almost the entire greater D.C. area, interacting with local residents to ensure friendly cooperation during the upcoming inauguration.
"I got to see the White House," said Casaday, "Washington D.C. is the biggest and furthest place I've seen."
By 4:30 a.m., on January 20, 2009, Casaday and three other Soldiers were already positioned in their assigned sector. Four more service members soon joined them as the volume of traffic in their sector increased. The Soldiers hardly noticed the low temperatures and icy winds as they began identifying authorized pedestrians and motorists allowed entry into the heart of the inaugural zone.
By afternoon, street activity had substantially subsided near the checkpoints manned by these Iowa National Guard Soldiers. They took advantage of the lull to bring in fresh Soldiers who prepared themselves for the exodus of humanity that would soon come, this time, from the opposite direction, as the transfer of power to the new commander-in-chief was now complete.
"It's wonderful. I'm glad I'm here," Casaday said, as vehicles and hordes of citizens raced past, "This has been a great experience. I'm very proud."
| Date Taken: | 01.20.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 01.20.2009 20:52 |
| Story ID: | 29075 |
| Location: | WASHINGTON, DC, US |
| Web Views: | 449 |
| Downloads: | 429 |
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