BRANSON, Mo. - Missouri National Guard engineers are supporting local law enforcement in southwest Missouri following last week's severe storms.
Missouri National Guard Citizen-Soldiers are supporting local law enforcement in Taney and Stone counties, said Col. Gregory Mason, assistant adjutant general and task force commander.
"We're here to assist local authorities with whatever they need," Mason said. "We're conducting presence patrols with law enforcement and manning traffic control points. Our Soldiers and Airmen are ready to respond with a wide range of capabilities to help these communities."
Since Gov. Jay Nixon mobilized the Guard, Missouri National Guardsmen have been aiding the Branson Police Department and the Taney County Sherriff's Department through presence patrols, Mason said. An additional mission to support Stone County began on Friday.
The support is being overseen by the Missouri Guard's 35th Engineer Brigade at Fort Leonard Wood. Approximately 120 soldiers have been mobilized.
Soldiers from the 276th Engineer Company, a subordinate unit of the 35th, said they were prepared to aid the citizens affected by the storms.
Spc. Timothy Barten, of the 276th Engineer Company in Pierce City, said Branson is good community to work in.
"People are helping each other," he said of clean-up following the tornado.
Barten hoped to be called by the Guard to assist in Joplin in May of last year, but other units were utilized before he got the chance, he said.
Sgt. Brandon Lewis served for a year in Afghanistan and said he was looking forward to serving his home state.
"This is one of the things you sign up for, both defending the country and the citizens of our state," Lewis said.
Pfc. Collin Chenoweth, a member of the 276th and a student at Pittsburg State, said being in the National Guard gave him a chance to help that most citizens don't have.
"A lot of people want to help and can't," Chenoweth said. "Being in the Guard gives me the opportunity."
Missouri Guard engineers also have the capability to provide emergency route clearance, route reconnaissance, health and welfare checks, and provide liaison officers to local county emergency operation centers during tornado support, although these are not current missions, Findley said.
Findley said the patrols will continue over the next few days and perhaps longer.
"We'll continue to serve as long as the citizens of Branson need our support," Findley said.
Another overseas veteran, Sgt. Dustin Patrick, of the 294th Engineer Company, said he is ready to help.
"Branson is another one of our communities," Patrick said. "This is a vacation place for most of us. I wish we didn't have state emergencies, but you can't stop Mother Nature."
Patrick deployed to Iraq in 2007 with the Missouri National Guard's 35th Engineer Brigade where he worked personal security detail, he said. Working at home is every bit as important, said Patrick.
"This is why we sign up for the Guard," Patrick said.