FARGO, N.D., - The chief of the National Guard Bureau visited
here today to meet with North Dakota National Guard leaders and check on
flood operations.
Air Force Gen. Craig R. McKinley surveyed sites, where North Dakota
Guardsmen have been working and patrolling this past week as the Red River
rose to its crest.
"I'm in from Washington, and there's an awful lot of interest in D.C., in
what you're doing out here," he said. "On behalf of all of the folks at the
National Guard Bureau, we appreciate your service to our nation and state,
and we know this is one of many things that we ask for you to do."
McKinley had the opportunity for a quick lunch here at the North Dakota Air
National Guard base with more than a dozen Guardsmen.
"After going around the whole table to get an idea of what everyone was
doing in support of the flood, he briefly talked about the times he had
visited Fargo," said Staff Sgt. Kristi Krabbenhoft, also of the 119th Wing.
"I really appreciated the fact that he took the time out of his busy
schedule to talk to us and get a feel for how we are doing."
After lunch, he received updates from leaders at the North Dakota National
Guard's Emergency Operations Center, before leaving on an aerial
reconnaissance of Red River area operations in a UH-60 Black Hawk.
After the flight, he took a ground tour with North Dakota National Guard
leaders to sites, where Guardsmen are employed.
"Gen. McKinley's visit is a clear demonstration of the concern and interest
that our military leadership at the National Guard Bureau have for our state
and that they are aware and ready support the efforts of the North Dakota
National Guardsmen," said Army Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, the adjutant
general of North Dakota.
McKinley also worked with the 119th Wing public affairs office to broadcast
a base-wide video message about the importance of the National Guard in
stateside missions like the 2009 flood.
"The National Guard is as an indispensible force, but many people think of
it only in terms of the fact that in which we're fighting overseas in Iraq
and Afghanistan," said McKinley. "What I like to stress is the fact that the
National Guard is also an indispensible force in our state and in our
communities and no place is that better epitomized as in Fargo and across
the state of North Dakota as you fight the floods."
The next stop on the agenda was a city tour of the flood operations.
McKinley and Sprynczynatyk were accompanied by Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat
Martin, the deputy adjutant general of North Dakota, Col. Ron Solberg,
emergency operations commander for regional response platform 4
(southeastern North Dakota) flood operations, and Col. Steve Tabor,
Solberg's deputy, among others from the North Dakota Guard.
The city tour began at El Zagel Shrine, where one of six light quick
reaction force teams are stationed in Cass County. McKinley thanked the
Shriners for "taking good care of our Soldiers" and met with those stationed
at the site 24 hours a day.
McKinley chatted with the Guardsmen, asking questions about how responses
are handled by the QRF team, what the Guardsmen do when they are called out,
and the process of communicating between the different agencies in the
state.
"Thanks for all you're doing. It looks like you were really ready if it had
gotten out of control," McKinley said before leaving to visit Guardsmen, who
are patrolling dikes by Oak Grove Lutheran School.
Dike walkers Staff Sgt. Ryan Sherman and Staff Sgt. Adam Kapaun, both of the
119th Wing, met up with McKinley while they walked the perimeter of the
dike.
Kapaun described how he looks for cracks and water seepage while on duty. He
also explained that he did the same patrol last year during the epic 2009
flood for 27 days.
The last stop of the trip was at Olivet Lutheran Church, where an
evacuation-focused quick reaction force is based with high-wheeled vehicles,
ready to evacuate anywhere in the area when called upon.
Olivet Pastor Jeff Sandgren and a crew of volunteers ensure the Guardsmen,
firefighters and police officers fighting the flood never go hungry.
"They look like they're in good spirits out there, so you're treating them
well," McKinley said as he offered a coin to the pastor and volunteers, who
offered McKinley fresh bread pudding while he was there.
"Thanks for taking care of our Soldiers and Airmen, we appreciate it," he
said.