VENICE, La., - Soldiers of the Louisiana National Guard's 1023rd
Vertical Engineer Company, 528th Engineer Battalion continued transporting
water diversion system materials from Venice, La., May 12, in support of the
shoreline protection mission in the vicinity of the southwest pass of the
Mississippi River delta.
This water diversion system replaces sandbags and is comprised of a series
of interlocking flexible tubes that are inflated with water to form a
temporary dam or levee.
After transporting the material, the Soldiers will preposition and construct
7.1 miles of the protection system along the shoreline of the southwest
pass.
The 1023rd, headquartered in Oak Grove, La., prepped the equipment for
transport by placing pallets into cargo nets to be wrapped for helicopter
transport.
"Dealing with helicopter missions like this can be very dangerous," says 1st
Lt. James G. Jones, executive officer for the 1023rd. "Safety is always
paramount at a time like this."
This is a unique mission for the 1023rd, and morale is high amongst the
Soldiers.
"I'm very pleased with the great job we've been doing," said Sgt. Terrence
L. Pleasant, heavy equipment operator. "We've been putting forth a great
effort with all the missions that we've been tasked with."