Polk to house Louisiana Guard returning from Iraq
September 8, 2005
FORT POLK, La. (Army News Service, Sept. 8, 2005) -- Imagine returning from a war zone to find the home you left behind looking worse than where you just served. While only an unlikely nightmare for most, for some members of the 256th Brigade Combat Team, Louisiana Army National Guard, it is a harsh reality.
With the devastation caused by recent Hurricane Katrina to New Orleans and surrounding communities, many Soldiers are returning home to find they have no home.
However, like a good battle buddy watching their brethren’s back down range, the Fort Polk community has stepped up to give their “brothers-in-arms” a roof over their heads to weather the storm.
“We have to take care of our own,” said Rick Russell, Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security.
Three-fold plan to house families
The plan to house returning Soldiers who may have lost everything is three-fold, Russell said.
The first part involves filling up the available 88 housing units on post. In addition to housing displaced Soldiers and their immediate families, Russell said there are also plans to fill housing with new furnishings through funds with funds that may be secured through the Southwest Region of the Installation Management Agency by Col. Wade Woolfrey Jr., garrison commander.
“We want to put them in the best facilities possible,” Russell said.
Mobile homes are Phase II
Due to the large number of families that may need homes, though, a second phase of purchasing and renovating mobile home parks scattered near the installation is being planned. This project entails 330 mobile homes to house returning 256th Soldiers. The homes will also be equipped with furniture, washers, dryers, tables, lamps, microwaves and access stairs and ramps.
“It should take about 10 weeks to complete this project,” Russell said, noting emphasis is being placed on utilities such as sewer, water and electricity. The project, which will cost about $11 million, will be performed by bidding contractors through the Directorate of Public Works and in coordination with the Corp of Engineers.
In the meantime, Russell said the third phase will be to build up and prepare the Force Provider Complex on North Fort for those awaiting the completion of the new mobile homes. This complex, according to Russell, can house 550 families.
While it may not be home, the complex will have all amenities necessary, such as air conditioning, laundry and a chapel, among others, to help families stay as comfortable as possible before moving into more permanent quarters. As homes are completed, Russell said families would be transferred out, filling in on-base housing and mobile homes first before moving off post.
Care means more than homes
Housing may go a long way toward helping hurricane victims, but a house doesn’t always equate with a home. To help define the difference, Fort Polk and surrounding community agencies are trying to make life return as close to normal as possible.
Included in these steps are working with the Vernon Parish School Board to integrate displaced children into their schools, creating new bus stops and bus routes and distributing financial dislocation allowances. For those who lost jobs in addition to homes, Soldiers affected are being kept on active duty so they can continue to draw a paycheck to support their families.
“We want to give the Soldiers something to do,” Russell said. “We have tons of employment opportunities for them here (on post).”
Returning Soldiers could be OCs
Job opportunities, according to Russell, include providing trainers and staff augmentees to support Fort Polk’s force protection and mobilization mission or serve as observer controllers for the Joint Readiness Training Center.
“Operations Group is always looking for trainers,” Russell said. “These heroes coming back have real-life experience they can pass to other Soldiers.”
Resources such as additional chaplains and financial advisors from the Department of the Army are also arriving on post to help heal spiritual and monetary ailments.
“We’re ready to help and ready to move,” said Russell, stating the post has been looking into every contingency to make sure everyone is taken care of since learning of the need via a warning order from the 5th Army. “We’re ready to receive them (Soldiers of the 256th) and look forward to helping them out.”
The Department of Defense will fund the project through IMA which is channeling the funds to the Southwest Region. About 546 Soldiers from the 256th, many from the 1/141st Field Artillery, based out of New Orleans, were affected with a projected 330 families needing homes. Families began filling housing Sept. 8.
Soldiers of the 256th will be returning throughout the week, officials said.
(Editor's note: Information provided by Fort Polk Public Affairs.)
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