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• National Guard helps recycle Xmas trees for marsh

  March 15, 2012 6:09 AM

  NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Call it a springtime Christmas present for the wetlands. Louisiana National Guard helicopter crews carefully placed more than 100 bundles of recycled Christmas trees between guidelines in the Bayou Sauvage National Wetland Refuge to help fight erosion. In all, the bundles held about 5,000 trees that... more »

• Lawmaker: National Guard should police New Orleans

  March 2, 2012 6:13 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A New Orleans lawmaker wants to give the governor the authority to call in the Louisiana National Guard to help police the city, which has seen continued murder rates higher than in other large municipalities. Rep. Austin Badon, a Democrat who is running for a... more »

• New partnership: Louisiana National Guard, Haiti

  January 20, 2012 10:20 AM

  NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The Louisiana National Guard will help the Haitian government prepare for and react to major natural events, strengthen its national police force and support the island nation's Coast Guard. Since the devastating earthquake two years ago in Haiti, the Louisiana National Guard has led two missions... more »

• Louisiana National Guard Gen. Basilica retires

  September 12, 2011 6:20 AM

  NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Army Maj. Gen. John P. Basilica Jr. of Baton Rouge has retired from the Louisiana National Guard after 33 years of military service. His retirement ceremony was Friday at Jackson Barracks in New Orleans. Basilica is vice president and gulf coast district leader for HNTB Corporation,... more »

• Military Families Reflect on Lives Lost

  August 8, 2011 12:09 AM

  Sunday in Acadiana, military families reflected on lives lost in Afghanistan. Everyday thousands of troops are constantly training to protect us and our country from any potential threats. In Breaux Bridge, the Louisiana National Guard was doing just that, learning more about decontamination and hazmat situations. "Obviously dirty... more »

• LA National Guard Trains Regional Hazmat Troops

  August 6, 2011 2:40 PM

  Three Louisiana National Guard units - about 250 soldiers - are training to become a regional team to find and treat victims of hazardous material disasters and clean up contamination. During exercises this weekend, troops will set up decontamination tents and equipment up in a drill designed to be completed... more »

• National Guardsmen Continue Work in Krotz Springs

  May 18, 2011 7:09 PM

  The water hasn't made it's way into the town of Krotz Springs yet, but officials are thinking it could be any day. National guardsmen working twenty-four seven and helicopters are constantly flying overhead. Officials are keeping a close watch for the first sign of rising water. Parish President, Don Menard,... more »

• Aqua Dam & HESCO Baskets Installed in Morgan City

  May 17, 2011 1:51 AM

  Near the shores of Lake Palourde in Morgan City, crews are working to give the Siracusaville levee more elevation. On the east side of the levee, members of the Army National Guard are working to install HESCO baskets, that will give the levee a few more feet of protection from... more »

• Return of La. National Guard soldiers continues

  December 21, 2010 9:50 AM

  SHREVEPORT, La. (AP) - The return of Louisiana National Guard soldiers deployed to Iraq continues this week. On Monday, 44 soldiers on two buses arrived at Shreveport's Fort Humbug, where friends and family were waiting. More were expected there Tuesday and Wednesday. Members of the 256th Infantry Brigade have been... more »

• LA National Guard Use Down Time To Unwind

  September 21, 2010 12:11 PM

  JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq - With the constant mission of escorting convoys, and conducting special operations, 3rd Battalion, 156th Infantry Regiment does not get a day off, but Soldiers from the Louisiana Army National Guard's "Task Force Bandit," used what down time they had to unwind from the daily grind... more »

• Relief Task Force Finishes Mission in Haiti

  September 16, 2010 11:06 AM

  An earthquake relief task force led by the Louisiana National Guard has wound up its mission in Haiti. Sgt. Rebekah Malone says a closing ceremony was held Wednesday in Port au Prince, and the 72 guardsmen who have run the operation since May are expected back in Alexandria this weekend.... more »

• Louisiana National Guardsmen Show LSU Pride

  September 7, 2010 11:43 AM

  Despite the 120-degree temperatures, swirling dust storms and the distance, love for Southeastern Conference football is strong in the deployed Louisiana National Guard with 2nd Squadron, 108th Cavalry Regiment, 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 224th Sustainment Brigade, 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), headquartered in Shreveport, La. The friendly bantering of SEC... more »

• Louisiana National Guard Completes Flood Protection Project Hescos Provide Flood Defense for Franklin Residents

  September 1, 2010 2:46 PM

  PINEVILLE, La. - For nearly 400 residents in Franklin, La., more than half a mile of Hesco baskets placed by Louisiana National Guardsmen are adding peace of mind against future storms, Aug. 27. In 2008, Hurricane Ike caused flooding along evacuation route Highway 90 that affected numerous homes. Strategically placed... more »

• Louisiana National Guard Transfer of Authority Ceremony

  August 17, 2010 12:25 PM

  CAMP VICTORY, Iraq - As the U.S. sets the conditions to meet President Barack Obama's policy to reduce troops in Iraq, a Louisiana National Guard company took on a new role to help facilitate the needs of the responsible draw down during a transfer of authority ceremony held at Camp... more »

• 256th Soldiers from Jeanerette Return

  August 12, 2010 7:06 PM

  About a dozen National Guardsmen from the 256th Infantry Brigade made their way back home to Jeanerette. They were gone for six months, but were originally expected to be gone for an entire year. Their mission was cut short because of a reduction in the number of troops. One... more »

• UPDATE-Holdup attempt ends in suicide on I-10

  August 4, 2010 3:22 PM

  UPDATE-BAY ST. LOUIS, Miss. (AP) - Bay St. Louis police say the man who killed himself on Interstate 10 after an attempted holdup in Louisiana was a Louisiana National Guard soldier assigned to help with the oil spill. Deputy Chief Mike DeNardo identifies him Wednesday as 24-year-old John Paul Loupe... more »

• National Guard Will Begin Heading For The Border

  July 19, 2010 1:00 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - Federal officials say National Guard troops will begin heading for the southwest border Aug. 1 to help secure it. The troops will train and be fully deployed by September and should be on the border for a year. They will be stationed in Arizona, California, New Mexico... more »

• LA National Guard Monitoring Dispatch Of Skimmers

  July 2, 2010 3:55 PM

  VENICE, La. (AP) - Gov. Bobby Jindal says Louisiana National Guard troops will monitor the dispatching of skimmers to deal with the Gulf oil spill. Expressing frustration with a lack of information from the Coast Guard on how many skimmers are working at a given time, Jindal said about 20... more »

• LA National Guard unit is in charge at Camp Liberty in Baghdad

  June 14, 2010 12:21 PM

  NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A Louisiana National Guard unit is in charge at Camp Liberty in Baghdad, Iraq. Sgt. Tresa L. Allemang, a guard spokeswoman in Iraq, says in an e-mail that the 199th Brigade Support Battalion, 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, took over garrison command earlier this month. Lt.... more »

• La. National Guard Troop Returning From Iraq

  May 21, 2010 9:32 AM

  PINEVILLE, La. (AP) - More than 160 soldiers of Louisiana National Guard's 1083rd Transportation Company are scheduled to return home Saturday after a year-long deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Staff Sgt. Denis Ricou says friends and family will welcome the troops home Saturday night as they arrive at... more »

• 17,500 National Guard Troops to Help States with Oil Spill

  May 4, 2010 4:40 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - The Pentagon has approved the federal mobilization of up to 17,500 National Guard troops to help various states with the oil spill. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has granted requests to send troops of up to 6,000 by Louisiana, 3,000 by Alabama, 2,500 by Florida and 6,000 by... more »

• LA National Guard Participates in Oil Spill Operations

  May 4, 2010 11:48 AM

  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... more »

• Support the 256th with Red Shirt Fridays

  April 9, 2010 1:44 PM

  With Acadiana's men and women of the 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team off to Iraq, some businesses are showing their support with "Red Shirt Fridays." One participating business is Teche Federal Bank on the corner of Johnston St. & Jefferson St. in Lafayette. The employees all show support... more »

• Knitting for Soldiers in Eunice

  March 17, 2010 7:22 PM

  A group of women is teaming up to help soldiers overseas keep warm in the upcoming winter months. Volunteers send 140 helmet liners and gators—which are neck warmers, to the 10 th Mountain Division Last month, but now they are turning their focus to the soldiers in the 256 th... more »

• Mock Drills Prep Acadiana Soldiers for Iraq

  February 22, 2010 1:12 PM

  Practicing for real-life situations is a key part of the soldiers' training at Camp Shelby in Mississippi. Simulations help the 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team prepare for what they could face in Iraq. "Communication is key-- make sure everyone communicates in the vehicle, my gunman and my driver,... more »

• Louisiana National Guard Helps Hard-Hit Communities

  January 12, 2010 3:12 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - The Louisiana National Guard is assisting local communities that have been affected by the freezing temperatures that hit the area over the past week. At the direction of the Governor in response to emergency requests for assistance received by the Governor's Office of Homeland Security... more »

• Last Few Goodbyes in Crowley

  January 8, 2010 4:06 PM

  Soldiers lined up so their familiescould hear their nameS call out loud the last time before deployment. After roll call, one last moment with those who mean the most. Wives had a chance for one final embrace with her husbands. One final kiss from a child thier dad. ... more »

• Soldier's Family Says Goodbye for 3rd Time

  January 8, 2010 2:28 PM

  Some soldiers of the 256th Infantry Brigade are leaving for their second or third deployment-- and they say it does not get any easier with time. One Opelousas family, the Everetts, say it is actually harder than the first time, because now they have 2 kids: 10-year-old Madeline and... more »

• A Last Taste of Home

  January 5, 2010 7:14 PM

  Members of the 156th in Crowley were treated to their last home-cooked meal for a year. "Doesn't get better than this." Words muttered by National Gaurd Specialist Donald Thibodeaux in between bites. Soldiers of the 3rd battalion of the 156th infantry brigade savored all they could. They... more »

• 225th Engineer Brigade Return Home

  November 17, 2009 12:00 PM

  La. Guardsmen return home after Iraq deployment 225th Engineers welcomed at reception PINEVILLE, La. - After a year-long deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, approximately 120 Soldiers from the Louisiana Army National Guard's 225th Engineer Brigade were welcomed home during a special reception at Camp Beauregard near Pineville, La.,... more »

• Kids Cope with Loved Ones Being Deployed

  November 15, 2009 6:48 PM

  Families try their best to prepare for when their loved ones get deployed, but what about the little ones? The Louisiana National Guard has been holding pre-deployment workshops all month to teach families how to deal. Five-year-old twins Christian and Athen Sellers, are struggling to handle their father... more »

• Louisiana Guard assists with flood operations in Bossier Parish

  November 4, 2009 2:37 PM

  BOSSIER CITY, La. -Louisiana National Guardsmen have been assisting with flood abatement operations since Saturday, Oct. 31, when flood waters threatened neighborhoods in Bossier City, La. Since Saturday evening, approximately 400 Louisiana Guardsmen have been running around-the-clock operations to help the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bossier City... more »

• Louisiana Guardsmen get surprise visit from NFL players

  October 29, 2009 9:33 AM

  PINEVILLE, La. - Members of the Louisiana Army National Guard were greeted by four NFL players in a special visit during pre-deployment training at Camp Beauregard near Pineville, La., Oct. 23. New Orleans Saints players Mark Brunell, Jonathan Goodwin, Zachary Strief and Jonathan Stinchcomb surprised members of the LANG's... more »

• Workshops planned for families of deploying soldiers

  October 23, 2009 8:55 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A series of workshops is planned for families of soldiers in the Louisiana National Guard's 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, which is to deploy in January. The purpose of the workshops is to share information with family members regarding programs and support available to them... more »