RUIDOSO, N.M. - The New Mexico National Guard swiftly responded to a devastating flooding event July 8 in Ruidoso, with two teams of two Guard members performing nine total rescues.
Senior Master Sgt. Marci Salmon, assigned to the 150th Special Operation Wing, and Spc. Daniel Daly, assigned to the 920th Engineer Battalion, were the two-person team who saved eight people from a mobile home park inundated by rapidly moving water.
When the call to action came, the teams were dispatched immediately.
"When we pulled up, the road had a few feet of water running over the road. The water was moving incredibly fast for not having much more than a few feet over the road," Salmon described.
This moment highlighted the raw power of the floodwaters, a force Salmon says she had only understood theoretically until that day.
The team's efforts focused on a mobile home park off Gallivan Road in Ruidoso, where residents were trapped. Daly led the rescues, navigating the fast-moving currents with firefighters to reach stranded individuals.
"Daly was incredibly professional, quick to respond and handled everything very calmly," Salmon said, adding that his "grace and gentleness" served as a powerful reminder of their mission.
Reflecting on his role, Daly shared a humble perspective.
“I’m glad to just be here,” Daly said. “I just think of it as we are New Mexicans helping New Mexicans, and I’m really grateful to be here in general. I love coming here on vacation and am happy that I can give back in some way.”
New Mexico National Guard Task Force, comprising both Army and Air National Guard units, has been working with state, tribal, federal and local authorities to provide flood and fire relief across the state.
"Service members of the New Mexico National Guard like Spc. Daly [adhere] to all Army and organizational values such as selfless service. Be it Army or Air Force, our values and commitment to our dual everstanding order to be ready to engage in a state or national emergency reflects on the training physically, mentally and holistically as we maintain a state of readiness and collaboration with our state, federal and local stakeholders,” said Maj. Marvin Paulk, Task Force commander.
The National Guard has been deployed to assist with rescue efforts, debris removal and providing support to the affected communities. This task force comprises units such as the 111th Sustainment Brigade and the 93rd Brigade, with additional support from the Air Guard's Red Horse Squadron.
These teams have provided assistance in communities such as Las Vegas, Silver City, Vado and Ruidoso, as well as to the Mescalero Apache Tribe. The specific roles they have fulfilled include swift water rescue, traffic control, debris removal and transporting sandbags and water.
Their presence offers a crucial lifeline to residents who have lost so much. While the full extent of the damage is still being assessed, initial reports indicate significant losses.