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. 22, 2008

Guardsmen aid stranded livestock

By Staff Sgt. Stephanie J. Cross State Aviation Command Unit Public Affairs

Aviators drop food and water to starving cattle in Calcasieu


HAMMOND, La. - National Guard Soldiers teamed up with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry this week to airlift food and water to thousands of cattle isolated by the floodwaters of Hurricane Ike.

Trapped in remote areas south of Vinton, La., in Calcasieu Parish, more than 3,000 cattle were at risk of starvation and kidney failure due to no feed and the high percentage of salt in the surrounding floodwaters.

Two National Guard CH-47 Chinook helicopters distributed more than 52,000 pounds of hay to the livestock and worked vigorously to provide fresh water, dropping more than 13,500 gallons to the different locations.

"It was pretty sad that the cattle were stranded out there with no food or water, but the rancher's had grid coordinates for us to drop the hay and water made it easier for us to conduct a successful mission quickly," said Spc. Michael Nolan of Metairie, La., who assisted with the life-saving mission.

 "Without the help from the National Guard and the donated hay from the Louisiana Department of Agriculture, these cattle could not have survived," said a tearful Kent LeDoux Gray Ranch Manager of Vinton, La. "They are isolated into small areas and need the fresh water and hay desperately."

"Water is even more critical than food at this point, because they have been ingesting a lot of salt water," said Bill Bruce of Gum Cove, La. Bruce is also a local rancher who went out by air-boat to check on his livestock Sunday morning after Hurricane Ike, and had already lost about 100 cattle.

"This is their life, they depend on their cattle," said Sgt. Joshua Davis, a volunteer with 1-244th Assault Helicopter Battalion home on leave from Iraq. "As Soldiers, it's our duty and an honor to help them."

"The National Guard responded much quicker than we expected," said LeDoux.  And that quick response meant life to the cattle that were looking at almost a week now without fresh water.

"This was a good experience for me", Davis added. "Not only was I able to make a difference, I also got a chance to familiarize myself with the Bambi buckets during a real world mission."

With more than 52,000 pounds of hay and 13,500 gallons of water distributed to the cattle so desperately in need, the National Guard will continue to provide as much assistance as resources will allow to help the cattle ranchers effected by Ike.

 

 

Related Articles
U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Laura Clellan, The Adjutant General of Colorado, and Lt. Gen. Thomas Süssli, chief of the Swiss Armed Forces, at the signing of the Letter of Intent for the new National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program partnership between Switzerland and Colorado. (Photo Courtesy U.S. Embassy Bern)
Colorado Guard, Switzerland Become Partners in Program
By Colorado National Guard | Sept. 15, 2025
CENTENNIAL, Colo. – The Swiss Confederation and Colorado National Guard have officially become state partners under the Department of War National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program or SPP.A signing ceremony with...

Spc. Brianna Coombs, 237th Military Police Company, New Hampshire Army National Guard, stands in formation during a departure ceremony held Oct. 3, 2022, at the Edward Cross Training Complex in Pembroke, New Hampshire. About 170 Soldiers are mobilizing for a year to the U.S.-Mexico border to assist Customs and Border Protection in surveilling and detecting illegal immigrant crossings.
Army Updates Standards for Appearance, Grooming, Uniform Wear in New Directive
By U.S. Army Public Affairs | Sept. 15, 2025
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army announced an update to its appearance, grooming, and uniform wear standards policy in a new directive resulting from a force-wide review of military standards. The updated policy clarifies existing...

Kansas Army National Guard Soldiers conduct medical training with Soldiers from the Republic of Armenia during Exercise Eagle Partner 2025 in August. Eagle Partner 2025, which aims to enhance interoperability for international peacekeeping missions, exchange best practices in control and communication, and improve the readiness of the Armenian Armed Forces' peacekeeping unit, is a U.S. Army Europe and Africa training event involving Soldiers from USAREUR-AF, the Kansas National Guard, and the Ministry of Defense for the Republic of Armenia.
Kansas Guard Joins Armenian Partners for Eagle Partner 2025
By Lt. Col. Kevin Kennedy, | Sept. 15, 2025
YEREVAN, ARMENIA — Building on more than 20 years of cooperation through the Department of War National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program, Soldiers and Airmen of the Kansas National Guard joined U.S. Army Europe and...