The Louisiana National Guard's 2225th Multi-Role Bridge Company, out of Marrero, La., constructs a 300-foot improved ribbon bridge at the Frank Campo Marina in Shell Beach, La., May 6. The 2225th MRB Co. constructed the bridge to serve as a temporary wharf for oil spill boom distribution in St. Bernard Parish. Photo by Sgt. Michael Owens

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Story by Sgt. Michael Owens

The Louisiana National Guard’s 205th Engineer Battalion constructed an improved ribbon bridge, May 6, in St. Bernard Parish to be used in support of operations related to the oil spill off the coast of Louisiana.

About 50 members of the 2225th Multi-Role Bridge Company, based in Marrero, La., built the 300-foot temporary wharf near the Frank “Blackie” Campo Marina in Shell Beach, La., so that oil booms can easily be picked up and distributed to fishermen that are working in support of the mission.

“Our main job is to construct the bridge so that the process of distribution becomes easier for all involved,” said Maj. James S. Slaven, executive officer of the 205th.

After transporting their boats and equipment to the Campo Marina in two separate convoys, the Guardsmen staged and accounted for all pieces.

The Soldiers loaded the boats into the bay, and one-by-one, each bridge section was dropped into the water and transported into the open bay for construction.

“Because we need adequate space to put it together, we have to move each section about 500 feet into the open bay,” said Slaven.

“It seems like a tedious process, but once we get started it rolls easily and quickly,” said 1st Sgt. Kevin P. Giroir, senior enlisted adviser for the 2225th.

Once the sections were transported to the working area, a crew connected each component until the whole bridge was completed.

“They worked diligently to get this complete,” said Slaven. “We were originally expecting to be here until 10 p.m., but they completed the mission by 5 p.m.”

Louisiana National Guardsman Maj. James S. Slaven, executive officer of the 205th Engineer Battalion, inspects a 300-foot improved ribbon bridge built by the 2225th Multi-Role Bridge Company, out of Marrero, La., at the Frank Campo Marina in Shell Beach, La., May 6. Photo by Sgt. Michael Owens

As a last order of business, Slaven inspected the bridge and gave it a final “thumbs-up” after their work met and surpassed the standards. A team of about ten Guardsmen will be onsite daily to maintain the bridge.

“I am really proud of each of these Soldiers,” said Slaven. “They worked really hard today to help Louisiana, and I want them to know that I appreciate their efforts.”

Heavy equipment operators from the Louisiana National Guard's 922nd Horizontal Engineer Company, 769th Engineer Battalion, bulldoze sand to close a strait between two peninsulas near Grand Isle, La., May 7. The closure will be a secondary defense in addition to the boom line in the Gulf of Mexico to prevent any oil from reaching further inland. (Army photo/Pfc. Tarell Bilbo)

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By Pfc. Tarell J. Bilbo

Soldiers from the Louisiana Army National Guard’s 922nd Horizontal Engineer Company, 769th Engineer Battalion, bulldozed sand to close the gap between two peninsulas near Grand Isle, La., May 7.

The 922nd, based in Gonzales, La., aims to fill the 700 foot strait with an 80-foot wide berth of land as a secondary line of defense if any oil makes it past the boom line in the Gulf of Mexico.

“Our short term mission is that we’re filling the breach to block any oil,” said 2nd Lt. Kyle J. Galloway, platoon leader with the 922nd. “However, because there actually used to be land here, this is also a restoration mission.”

This mission is of special importance to 922nd heavy equipment operator, Sgt. George B. Achee.

“My dad is a fisherman,” said Achee, a native of Baker, La., “and he expressed to me the importance of keeping the Gulf of Mexico free of oil and how much it would mean to the economy.”

Louisiana Army National Guard 2nd Lt. Crystal A. Huff administers the oath of enlistment to her sister, Mindy M. Donnelly, during a swearing-in ceremony at the Military Entrance Processing Station in Shreveport, La., Sept. 30. Donnelly will immediately begin Basic Training at Fort Jackson, S.C., before joining the 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team at Camp Shelby, Miss. Photo by Spc. Scott Longstreet

On leave from a deployment in Kuwait, Louisiana Army National Guard 2nd Lt. Crystal A. Huff welcomed her sister Mindy M. Donnelly into the National Guard by administering the oath of enlistment during a swearing-in ceremony at the Military Entrance Processing Station in Shreveport, La., Sept. 30.

“The Guard is like a family to me,” said Huff, a member of the 204th Theater Aviation Operations Group. “I met my husband in the military and now have both my nephew and sister in the National Guard as well.”

Donnelly, a Calhoun, La., native, will depart immediately for Fort Jackson, S.C., to begin her 10-week Basic Combat Training course followed by 10 weeks of Advanced Individual Training at Fort Lee, Va. She will enlist as a food service specialist.

“I wanted a different way of living,” Donnelly said. “I wanted to do something different with my life and make things better for me and my son.”

Upon completion of training, she will join the 199th Brigade Support Battalion, 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team at Camp Shelby, Miss., in preparation for a January 2010 deployment to Iraq.

“I purposely chose a job that would allow for the quickest deployment,” the 29-year-old Donnelly said.

Huff, the personnel officer with the aviation group, talked about the impact this swearing-in ceremony has on the family.

“We are proud of her,” she said. “This will be an eye opening experience for Mindy, and I cannot wait to see her after a year or so in the military. We are confident this will lead to a better and brighter future for both her and her son.”

“I am dedicated to the task,” Donnelly added. “I am a hard worker and cannot wait to train myself for something better. I also have plans for college in the future.”

The oath of enlistment into the United States Armed Forces is administered by any commissioned officer to any person enlisting or re-enlisting for a term of service into any branch of the military. The officer asks the person, or persons, to raise their right hand and repeat the oath after him. The oath is traditionally performed in front of the United States Flag and other flags, such as the state flag, military branch flag and unit guidon.

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Story by Spc. Scott Longstreet