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Team to help Guard Soldiers return to Louisiana

September 5, 2005

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Sept. 5, 2005)--The Army has deployed a special team to Fort Polk, La., to support Soldiers in the Louisiana Army National Guard who are returning this month from duty in Iraq to their families and homes in the region affected by Hurricane Katrina.

More than 2,300 Soldiers of the 256th Brigade Combat Team have been away for about a year while supporting the Global War on Terrorism.

More than 545 of these Louisiana-based Soldiers have suffered property damage following Hurricane Katrina and more than 50 cannot reach their loved ones. The Army and National Guard formed “Task Force Care” to help the Soldiers with their return home.

The reintegration team has at its disposal housing relocation services, chaplains, Veterans Administration certified counselors, FEMA representatives, Red Cross volunteers, medical assistance teams, and other care organizations.

“To successfully reintegrate Soldiers returning from Iraq back into a natural disaster area while ensuring every single Soldier and their family’s wellbeing needs are met,” is the intent said Lt. Gen. Clyde Vaughn, director of the Army National Guard.

“They have done their part in Iraq. Now it is our turn to do our part to make these Soldiers and their families whole again in the wake of Katrina,” said Maj. Warren Stump of the National Guard Bureau. “As we welcome our men and women home, we want to ensure that their wellbeing is our top priority. We want to successfully reintegrate these Citizen-Soldiers who are returning from this deployment and ensure every one of them and their families are being taken care of.”

An advance party of 50 soldiers from the Louisiana Army National Guard's 256th Brigade Combat Team returned Sept. 4 from their Iraq deployment, with more Soldiers expected later this week.

“This is one Army. And this is what we do in the Army – we take care of our Soldiers and their families,” said Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker.

The vast majority of Soldiers in this brigade are anxious and ready to help the citizens who have been affected by the terrible storm, said Brig. Gen. John Basilica Jr., 256th BCT Commander.

“The people of Louisiana have been worrying about us these past 12 months, now we are worried about them,” he said.

“Many Soldiers, but not all, will have the opportunity to continue to serve their country while on active duty and assisting with Joint Task Force Hurricane Katrina,” Basilica added.

“Our prayers go out to the families and those most affected by Hurricane Katrina,” he said.

Members of the 256th Brigade Combat Team deployed to Iraq in September and October 2004, and will return to Fort Polk, La.

(Editor's note: Information taken from National Guard and Department of the Army news releases.)