Many of them have served in Iraq or Afghanistan where they cursed the sand that crept into everything from their boots to their bunks.
So there was some irony when National Guardsmen from several Midwestern states found themselves battling rain and heat to fill and stack sandbags by the thousands in sometimes futile attempts to prevent floodwaters from escaping their banks last month.
"The fact that they are providing relief services and aren't engaged in war has been noticed," said Maj. Gen. Ron Dardis, Iowa adjutant general. "They feel very good about being able to do that."
Floods that may end up being historic in size and damage rolled through towns and covered farmland through much of the Midwest in June, the worst flooding seen since the 1993 flood that caused $15 billion in damage.
In Iowa, more than 4,000 soldiers and airmen were called up to battle the rising waters. In Indiana, more than 1,300 were called to duty. And in Illinois, more than 1,100 were battling high water by mid-month.
Downstream, Missoun planned to have 700 on duty. The figures are current as of June 19, well before the final tallies. Filling sandbags was a common task, but Guardsmen also directed traffic and provided security.
"Our soldiers began sandbagging operations [June 14] along the Mississippi River," said Maj. Gen. William Enyart, the Illinois adjutant general. "We will continue operations until the mission is complete."
Indiana did begin a redeployment of troops on June 15 after eight long days, although a few dozen remained in southwest Indiana.
Those leaving could take with them the good wishes of people from towns like East Mount Carmel, Hazleton, New Harmony and others where the efforts of the Guardsmen limited the damage.
"I don't know what we'd do without you guys," said Sue Lewis of Hazleton.
This was after the town, like others, had provided the Hoosier State troops with home-cooked meals of sausages, turkey and noodles, and macaroni and cheese, all made from scratch. The desserts were an equal marvel: cherry cobbler, German chocolate cake, apple dumplings and more.
"If they weren't working so hard, they'd all be fat from the good cooking," said Brig. Gen. David Harris, who commanded the soldiers and airmen of Task Force 81 that held back the floodwaters as best they could.
Some of the Guard members helped others even while their homes were being flooded.
"That says a lot about Indiana Guardsmen and how much they care about the community," said Maj. Jim Jensen.
The worst flooding, however, seemed to be in Iowa, where the city of Cedar Rapids and its neighbor, Iowa City, were swamped. So was Des Moines, the state's capital city. More than 4,000 homes in Cedar Rapids were evacuated for what was termed a 500-year flood. In all, more than 36,000 people had to be evacuated.
"Our initial estimate was that 1,500 to 1,700 troops would be needed," said Dardis at one point, "but then it was 2,000 and now it's 2,500."
Like the flood water, however, that figure kept rising. By June 19, nearly 4,000 Iowa Guardsmen were on duty.
Rivers in Illinois began to flood a bit later than those in neighboring states. Called to the banks of the Mississippi and the Illinois rivers, the Guard troops responded within hours.
Among them was Sgt. Robert Donaldson from the 2nd Battalion, 123rd Field Artillery based in Milan. He spent Father's Day filling sandbags on a levee near Quincy.
"My kids aren't too happy with me here on Father's Day, but they'll live with it," said the father of three children ages 1 to 7 years old.
Staff Sgt. Nicholas Armstrong of Peoria was not far from Donaldson on the Quincy levee.
"I take great pride in being able to be here," he said. "We are doing as much as we can and it's great to be working side by side with area residents."
Across the river in Missouri, Guardsmen were on flood duty, also. Lt. Col. William McKinney said he hoped to have the troops back to their jobs and families as soon as possible.
"Until that time, we all know that it is time to set personal concerns aside and help those most in need," he said.
Soldiers from Wisconsin's 924th Engineer Detachment teamed with civilian engineers to assess damage caused by the floods. Other troops delivered sandbags and potable water where needed. And a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter from die 147th Aviation Battalion provided aerial damage assessment.
There was common ground throughout the area affected by the flooding. Guardsmen appreciated the opportunity to help their fellow citizens and the citizens responded with the same sense of appreciation.
"It's great to have the Guard here to help us," said Thomas Freeman, who had been working on the levee at Quincy, Ill., for more than two days.
And in Elnora, Ind., Tony Wichman, a county commissioner, had an important message for the soldiers who helped reinforce a levee and prevent it from breaking.
He told them, "You guys saved our town."
-Compiled from news and Guard reports
© 2008 National Guard Association of the United States Provided by ProQuest LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Source: National Guard
