An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | Sept. 11, 2008

Louisiana National Guard Soldiers cheer young patient

By SPC Qualan M. Jefferson 2nd Squadron, 108th Cavalry Regiment Unit

NEW ORLEANS - Troopers from the 2nd Squadron, 108th Cavalry Regiment, 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, headquartered in Shreveport, La., gave a young child one of the Cavalry's most prized possessions""a set of spurs.

The spurs were given to Cameron Bayley, a four-year-old from Mandeville, La., suffering from a disease called Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. HLHS is a rare congenital heart defect in which the left side of the heart is severely underdeveloped.

Spurs are awarded to those deemed the best of the best in the U.S. Cavalry. Every year during annual training, Soldiers are offered the opportunity to earn their spurs during a Spur Ride. During the course of the ride, spur candidates are subjected to different challenges that test their initiative, military expertise and stamina.

"It's hard to earn your spurs during a Spur Ride," said Sgt. Jesse G. Kennedy of Bossier City.

"I gave him [Cameron] mine because he's a little boy and going through all he's been through - he deserves a set of spurs."

Cameron had surgery at Children's Hospital of New Orleans right before Hurricane Gustav, which prevented the Bayley family from evacuating.

"When he was born, the doctors only gave us two options: take him home and he will die, or let them begin a series of surgeries to correct it," said Tracy Bayley, Cameron's mother.

This was Cameron's third surgery since birth. He will have more as he enters adolescence and adulthood.

"It was fantastic having the Guardsmen here. Cameron was having a bad day until the Guard showed up. The Soldiers helped cheer him up and were here with us throughout the storm," said Bayley.

Troop B, 2nd Squadron, is assigned to District 2, where the Children's Hospital of New Orleans is located. They are located in New Orleans to help facilitate citizens' safe return after evacuating the city in advance of Hurricane Gustav.

 

 

Related Articles
Group photo for the Information Operations Subject Matter Exchange during the opening ceremony of Tiger Balm 2025 on May 5 2025 at Mandai Hill, Singapore.
Washington Guard, Singapore Team Up for Tiger Balm 2025
By Joseph Siemandel, | May 30, 2025
SINGAPORE – Washington Army National Guardsmen traveled to Mandai Hill, Singapore, this month to participate in exercise Tiger Balm 2025. It was the 44th iteration of the bilateral exercise between the Singapore Army Forces...

Soldiers from the 138th Operational Fires Command integrate with 41st Field Artillery Brigade and U.S. Army V Corps during Command Post Exercise hosted in both Fort Knox, Kentucky, and Camp Kosciusko, Poland, early May 2025.
Kentucky Army Guard Completes Exercise with V Corps
By Capt. Cody Stagner, | May 30, 2025
POZNAN, Poland — Soldiers from the 138th Operational Fires Command (OFC), Kentucky Army National Guard, recently participated in a corps-level Command Post Exercise (CPX) with U.S. Army V Corps, held in early May at both Fort...

U.S. Air Force Capt. Isaac Tian, a cyber operations officer with the 262nd Cyber Operations Squadron, Washington Air National Guard, analyzes data for evidence of adversary indicators of compromise on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., April 6, 2025. Tian is among the first Air National Guard members to be selected under a newly established direct commission program for cyber professionals.
Washington Airman Selected for Direct Commission in Cyber
By Airman 1st Class Jordaan Kvale, | May 30, 2025
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Washington – Capt. Isaac Tian, a cyber operations officer with the 262nd Cyber Operations Squadron, is among the first Air National Guard members selected under a newly established direct commission...