Louisiana Guard assists in St. Bernard boom operations

Photo By Sgt. Michael Owens | Members of the Louisiana National Guard's 1022nd Engineer Company, 527th Engineer Battalion, and Oil Mop, LLC., employees load oil booms onto boats at the Breton Sound Marina in Hopedale, La., May 3. The 1022nd is responding in support of operations related to the oil spill off the coast of Louisiana.  

NEW ORLEANS, LA, UNITED STATES

05.03.2010

Story by Sgt. Michael Owens 

Louisiana National Guard

NEW ORLEANS – The Louisiana National Guard participated in oil spill operations with St. Bernard Parish officials and Oil Mop, LLC., at the Breton Sound Marina in Hopedale, La., May 3.

Guardsmen from the 1022nd Engineer Company of the 527th Engineer Battalion, were tasked with keeping track of the number of oil booms which will be used to help collect oil from the water as it reaches the coastline.

The Soldiers were given a class on safety and immediately began loading bags of booms and stakes onto boats that are going to put the booms in place.

"As each bag is carefully loaded, it is our job to make sure that everything is counted," said Cpl. Caitlyn M. Jones of the 1022nd. "That can be a hard task because this is a big operation, but we are going to do it efficiently," she said.

The 1022nd also kept a record of the amount of booms being loaded and the boats carrying them.

"We have been looking for a way to keep accountability on what is going out," said Lt. j.g. Namon R. Dimitroff of the Coast Guard. "The Guardsmen are helping us out tremendously, and we appreciate their help."

• Date Taken: 05.03.2010
• Date Posted: 05.04.2010 11:48
• Story ID: 49099
• Location: NEW ORLEANS, LA, US