NEW ORLEANS - The Louisiana National Guard participated in oil
spill operations with St. Bernard Parish officials and Oil Mop, LLC., at the
Breton Sound Marina in Hopedale, La., May 3.
Guardsmen from the 1022nd Engineer Company of the 527th Engineer Battalion
were tasked with keeping track of the number of oil booms, which will be
used to help collect oil from the water as it reaches the coastline.
The Soldiers were given a class on safety and immediately began loading bags
of booms and stakes onto boats that are going to put the booms in place.
"As each bag is carefully loaded, it is our job to make sure that everything
is counted," said Cpl. Caitlyn M. Jones of the 1022nd. "That can be a hard
task because this is a big operation, but we are going to do it
efficiently."
The 1022nd also kept a record of the amount of booms being loaded and the
boats carrying them.
"We have been looking for a way to keep accountability on what is going
out," said Lt. Namon R. Dimitroff of the Coast Guard. "The Guardsmen are
helping us out tremendously, and we appreciate their help."