SAN DIEGO, Ca. - California Army National Guard Soldiers from the 1-184 Infantry Battalion gathered up their gear at Qualcomm Stadium Friday morning after providing assistance to the fire evacuees this week.
The Auburn, Calif.-based soldiers arrived Tuesday at Montgomery Airfield flying in on a C-130J based out of the California Air National Guard's 146th Airlift Wing, Channel Islands Air National Guard Station.
While dispatched at Qualcomm Stadium, soldiers worked side-by-side with the San Diego Police Department and also set up a perimeter to discourage evacuees from stealing from each other.
"We were in place securing goods and making sure people didn't walk away with other people's stuff," said Sgt. Devin Trathen, a squad leader with the 1-184th's Charlie Company. "The local law enforcement were in charge of detaining thieves, and there were only a couple of incidences."
San Diego Police said the troops were tireless in their efforts of loading and unloading water, blankets, supplies and other donations from the surrounding communities.
Sergeant Trathen was impressed with the initiative and attitude of the volunteers at Qualcomm Stadium. "They're cooperative, positive, and doing the best they can out here," he said.
The volunteers weren't the only ones with a good attitude about the work they were doing to assist the evacuees. Capt. Gerald Agustin, of Long Beach's 40th Brigade Support Battalion, asked his 25 soldiers from how they felt about being in the San Diego area helping out, and they responded with an enthusiastic Army "Hooah!"
The soldiers headed back today to Montgomery Airfield to join their fellow Army and Air National Guard members. The troops have set up a "˜tent city' for their base operations. Local businesses donated amenities such as a mobile laundry service, mobile showers, catered meals, a USO converted RV that was stocked with two widescreen TVs and an internal lounge with a TV.
California National Guard members and civilians are working well together and really appreciate each other's efforts to help, no matter what the task. "The San Diego Police said we did a great job," said Capt. Robert Kanaski of the 40th BSB. The community appreciation of the troops' service is welcome recognition, he said.