INDIANAPOLIS - Four Indiana National Guard Soldiers with the 38th Infantry Division’s combat aviation brigade helped their southern neighbors in Kentucky with flood relief efforts.
With Indiana’s assistance, the Kentucky National Guard evacuated approximately 300 residents from two housing complexes surrounded by floodwaters in Martin County, Kentucky, Feb. 17.
“Our Soldiers made a tremendous impact to the safety and livelihood of our Kentucky neighbors,” said Brig. Gen. Larry Muennich, Indiana’s adjutant general. “We’re proud to help our neighbors in times of need. We’re one team, and we’re one fight, and this is what neighbors do. We appreciate Gov. Mike Braun’s confidence in the Indiana National Guard and authorization to assist in this mission.”
Flooding across Kentucky claimed at least 11 lives and closed more than 300 roads.
“Our hearts go out to the people of eastern Kentucky who were hit by record-breaking floods and then followed by winter storms. It felt good to be able to help them,” said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Brett Milton, a pilot on the flood mission. “It was a very rewarding experience for me and my team.”
The Hoosier crew hoisted 19 adults, five children and six dogs to a hovering helicopter and evacuated them safely.
“These are the type of missions we signed up to do when we joined the National Guard,” said Milton. “We appreciate our Indiana leadership enabling us so we could help our brothers and sisters of the Kentucky National Guard. Though we hadn’t previously worked side by side, it was still like working with family or old friends.”
The Hoosier aircrew included Milton, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Craig Adams, Sgt. 1st Class Adam Kabella and Sgt. Dalton McCollum.