Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Ben Houtkooper | Through the side window of a Black Hawk helicopter, Sgt. 1st Class Randy Neumann, 1st...... read more read more
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Minnesota National Guard
NEW MEXICO - Through the dusty side window of a Black Hawk, it is a barely-visible dirt road that cuts through the desolate deserts of southern New Mexico. This isn't the ten-foot chain link fence laced with concertina wire that is seen on the news. In some of the most remote locations, marked only by hundreds of large white "monuments" just barely in sight of each other, the U.S.-Mexico border is easy to miss.
Before the National Guard stepped in, the area was watched by a handful of border patrol agents. The Las Cruces area seemed a clear entrance for both undocumented aliens and some of Mexico's largest drug traffickers.
After a flood of more than 13,000 apprehensions in 2001, the National Guard quickly answered the U.S. Border Patrol's call for help, standing up a force of over 3,000 citizen-Soldiers and Airmen to augment the force of agents.
Currently, over 140 Minnesota National Guard Soldiers and Airmen deployed to support Operation Jump Start, operating observation points in the midst of the vast New Mexico desert. The Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 135th Infantry use the latest technology to spot illegal crossings. Night vision goggles, Forward-Looking Infrared (FLIR), ground based radar and the advanced optics from Avenger missile systems are a few of the tools used.
The Soldiers' tour continues for three weeks, replacing their usual annual training period. The first week is dedicated to first aid, cultural awareness and other events that prepare them for the mission.
"This is a mission for the National Guard," said Staff Sgt. Peter Nack of Company F, 334th Brigade Support Battalion. "We're guarding our country."
Some come in search of a better life for their families, others bring hundreds of pounds of drugs. In either case, their only obstacle is the unforgiving tract of dirt and cacti that burns in the day and freezes at night. Still, people attempt the perilous journey everyday.
"They'll walk forty miles through the desert, from the border, across the mountains, whether it's winter or summer," said Richard Moody, border patrol officer in charge of the Deming area. "The summer is worse because a lot of people are going to go down very quickly. We'll also get people in the winter. They're not properly dressed, a storm comes down, they get drenched and the cold sets in."
The Soldiers and Border Patrol agents are not without compassion for the people who risk the journey.
"We had a couple of our Soldiers out on a position and had some undocumented aliens come up and say that one of their friends fell down a mine shaft." said Staff Sgt. Peter Nack of 334th Brigade Support Battalion.
Rescue teams quickly recovered the injured man from the 35 foot deep hole.
Second Battalion, 135th Infantry Soldiers will continue their support of Operation Jump Start through Feb. 10, 2007.
| Date Taken: | 01.26.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 08.07.2007 15:23 |
| Story ID: | 11683 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 446 |
| Downloads: | 378 |
This work, Boots on the Border, by SFC Ben Houtkooper, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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