Courtesy Photo | Engineers from the 111th Engineer Battalion, Texas Army National Guard, working with...... read more read more
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GRANBURY, Texas - A team of Texas National Guard engineers rescued three people from flooding waters, May 26, 2015 in Granbury, Texas.
Working with local and state first responders, Texas Guardsmen spent the Memorial Day weekend responding to many such calls for help all over Texas.
“We got a call around midnight from the local sheriff’s department,” said 1st Lt. Max Perez, 236th Engineer Company, 111th Engineer Battalion, Texas Army National Guard. “They asked us to check a neighborhood near the Brazos River for flooded homes and anyone in need.”
Perez took his team of engineers and split into two groups to better search the neighborhood for citizens in need.
“The soldiers responded very quickly; they only took 10 or 15 minutes to get ready to go,” said Perez. “They were pretty motivated about the mission – eager to save lives.”
With the help of a local police officer and a local firefighter, the engineers combed through the neighborhood checking on residents.
“We found a stranded car that couldn’t move,” said Perez. “There was water up to the window of the car.”
The engineers immediately stopped and got out to help; each soldier securing themselves to a safety line attached to their military vehicle or another stationary object first.
“We saw a family – a woman, her daughter, about three or four, and a man, stuck in the car,” said Perez.
Staff Sgt. Thomas Kennington, 111th Forward Support Company, 111th Engineer Battalion, along with several other soldiers, pulled the little girl and her mother from the car and brought them to safety, then returned for the man. Once all three people were safe, the team pulled the vehicle to dry land, to ensure that it wouldn’t wash away, said Perez.
“This is the first time I’ve ever done anything like this,” said Kennington. “When you’re in that moment with lights flashing, water rushing and soldiers around you whose safety you are concerned for – it’s an adrenaline flow.”
The engineers were grateful to have been able to help their fellow citizens in need that day.
“The little girl thanked me over and over for saving her and her Mama,” said Kennington. “That’s what this is all about.”
Perez said he was just thankful to have been asked to help and that he was proud of his soldiers.
“They showed me the reason why they put on the uniform that night,” said Perez. “Their bravery and dedication was amazing.”
Texas Guardsmen rescued more than 100 Texans in need during flooding across the state, mid-late May 2015.
| Date Taken: | 05.26.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 05.27.2015 16:16 |
| Story ID: | 164728 |
| Location: | GRANDBURY, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 404 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Texas Guardsmen rescue family from flooding waters, by CPT Martha Nigrelle, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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