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 | June 28, 2010

Louisiana Guard chaplains serve oil spill responders

By Sgt. 1st Class Paul C. Meeker, Louisiana National Guard

ROBERT, La., - The Louisiana National Guard is serving the spiritual needs of oil spill responders by providing worship opportunities, counseling services and site visits by Army and Air Guard chaplains and chaplains' assistants.

"From the beginning of the oil spill mission, LANG chaplains have been providing religious support to service members and civilians," said Army Col. Robert S. Baker, Jr., the state chaplain of the Louisiana Guard. "Our religious support teams are tirelessly serving those who are serving."

Since operations began in early May, the LANG religious teams have been serving responders in such diverse areas as Buras, Port Fourchon, Shriever, Amelia, Robert, Cocodrie, Marrero, Shell Beach and New Orleans.

Just like the oil responders they are serving, the religious support teams work seven days a week traveling across southern Louisiana offering their services. To date, more than 75 site visits and nearly 60 religious services have been performed by the Guard chaplains.

"We go where the Soldiers need us," Baker said. "It doesn't matter what battalion they are from, we talk to them and minister to any one that needs us."

Baker explained that some services are formally scheduled through the battalions, and others are made at the request of individual Soldiers.

"Services may be held anywhere - in a tent or building, whatever is available," Baker said adding that the other members of the religious support service currently on duty are Army chaplains 1st Lt. Gary Memelo and 1st Lt. Chris Gueydan as well as assistant Pfc. Randall Dixon.

Air Guard Staff Sgt. Ralph K. Simcox, a chaplain's assistant activated for the oil spill mission, explained that while the Guard chaplains presently called to duty are either Catholic or Protestant, they are trained to serve the spiritual needs of Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish or Islamic believers. They are also available to provide counseling services to those without specific religious beliefs, Simcox added.

At a recent Sunday service at the Deepwater Horizon Unified Command headquarters in Robert, La., Air Guard chaplain Lt. Col. Caesar A. Silva conducted Catholic Mass.

In his message, Silva, who also serves as the parish priest for Sacred Heart Church in Montegue, La., called attention to the diversity of the oil spill responders - civilians, National Guard, Coast Guard and other military members - and the value of their work.

"All kinds of people are deployed here with a mission that touches the hearts of Louisiana's citizens," Silva said. "We are all working together to solve this problem."

 

 

Related Articles
A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter from Knoxville’s 1-230th Assault Helicopter Battalion delivers water with a Helicopter Bucket to fight a wildfire near Turtletown, in Polk County, April 15. Helicopter Buckets are used to provide hundreds of gallons of water from local area water sources to combat wildfires.
Tennessee Guardsmen Respond to Polk County Wildfire
By | April 15, 2025
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Army National Guard provided two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters from Knoxville’s 1-230th Assault Helicopter Battalion today to support a wildfire response in Polk County, at the request of the...

New York Army National Guard Soldiers take on the 12-mile ruck march to test endurance and resilience during the 2025 State Best Warrior Competition at Camp Smith Training Site, near Peekskill, N.Y., April 5, 2025. The Best Warrior Competition, held April 7-11, 2025, is an annual event in which junior enlisted Soldiers and non-commissioned officers from various units compete in several events intended to test their military skills and knowledge, as well as their physical fitness and endurance.
Cavalry and Infantry Soldiers Win N.Y. Army Guard Best Warrior Competition
By Staff Sgt. Richard Trinh, | April 15, 2025
CAMP SMITH TRAINING SITE, N.Y. – After four days of physically demanding tasks, mental challenges and military skill assessments, a cavalry scout and infantryman earned top honors in this year’s New York Army National Guard...

Swedish Army Corporal Simon Drie Runnander, receives an award from New York Army National Guard Command Sgt. Major Edwin Garris, to mark his participation in the New York National Guard Best Warrior Competition, during a dinner at the United States Military Academy at West Point on April 10, 2025. Drie Runnander and Pvt. Jasper Petersson, took part in the annual Best Warrior event as part of the New York National Guard State Partnership Program.
Swedish Soldiers Compete in NY Guard Competition
By Staff Sgt. Richard Trinh and Eric Durr, | April 15, 2025
CAMP SMITH TRAINING SITE, N.Y. — Two soldiers from the Swedish Armed Forces competed with New York Army National Guard troops during the 2025 Best Warrior Competition last week. Swedish Cpl. Simon Drie Runnander and Pvt...