MUSKOGEE COUNTY, Okla. - The Oklahoma Army National Guard on Wednesday aided more than 100 cows stranded without food by flood waters following torrential rains over the Memorial Day weekend.
On Tuesday evening, the Oklahoma National Guard's Joint Operations Center (JOC) received notification from the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) of a state active-duty mission to deliver hay and other feed to cows in Muskogee County.
The cows' owner, Robert Vinson, has been raising cattle in Muskogee County for more than 12 years and has never seen flood waters rise the way they have this month. "This month has been exceptional for the amount of rain we've received," said Vinson.
On Saturday morning, meteorologists forecasted for about half of the nearly six inches of rain that fell on Muskogee County over the Memorial Day weekend. Vinson, believing the forecasts, put out enough hay to feed his cattle for three to four days. But, the rain came down in buckets and flood waters covered every road and trail to the cows' pasture area.
Knowing that the waters would not recede before his cows would need more hay and feed, Vinson contacted the Warner (Oklahoma) Fire Department on Tuesday morning to see if they had any ideas on how he could get food to the cows. The fire department contacted Muskogee County Emergency Management and the request worked its way up the chain until finally reaching the Oklahoma National Guard's Joint Operations Center. On Tuesday evening, the aircrew was given the mission for the next morning.
At 10:30 a.m., the crew lifted off for the hour-long flight from their facility near Lexington, Oklahoma, to the ranch in Muskogee County. By noon, the first load of four round bales was loaded and the crew made the four-minute flight to the drop zone. From an altitude of 50 feet, the bales were rolled out the back of the hovering Chinook and hit the ground below with a gentle bounce.
The aircraft commander, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Michael McGill, of Mustang, Oklahoma, was glad to have the opportunity to aid Vinson and his cattle. "This (mission) is different than what we normally do, but I really enjoy helping people here at home," said McGill.
Another load followed a few minutes later and the crew made the short trip back to the drop zone and then headed back to the landing zone to collect the third and final load. Within a few hours, the final load was delivered and the aircraft returned to Lexington.
In total, the Chinook and its crew delivered 14 round bales of hay and 700 pounds of dry feed, which is enough food to sustain the stranded cattle for about a week.
As the mission was coming to an end, Vinson thanked his neighbors, friends and the Oklahoma National Guard members who had made sure his cows would not starve. "I couldn't have fed my cows without the help I have received from all of you, and I am very thankful," he said.