Louisiana Soldiers Continue Rescue Operations

August 31, 2012
By SGT Rashawn Price, Courtesy of Louisiana National Guard
Carville, LA, United States

Members of the 256th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, continue search-and-rescue operations in St. John the Baptist Parish using high-water military vehicles and dedicated manpower throughout the day, Aug. 30, 2012.
 
According to Sergeant First Class Samuel Anderson, a significant number of citizens were rescued due to the hard work of his unit.
 
“My unit has helped rescue hundreds from the parish of St. John the Baptist,” said Anderson, a communications security custodian for C Company, 256th BSTB.
 
The Soldiers of the 256th BSTB, based in Lafayette, LA, worked long hours to accomplish their mission. Search-and-rescue operations began the night before for many Guard units once Isaac moved beyond their operational areas.
 
This day’s mission involved driving the high-water vehicles through flooded neighborhoods to rescue stranded citizens from dangerous waters.
 
“We’ve been working for about 15 hours straight rescuing citizens of this parish and their pets,” said Sergeant Lee Savoy, a cook and supply sergeant for Det. 1, 256th BSTB. “The gratitude of the people of this parish has fueled my passion for serving the community; it makes it easy to take trip after trip to save more lives.”
 
The 256th BSTB has deployed twice to Iraq in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn.