Barksdale unit responds to request for aid

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Mike Andriacco
  • 2d Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. (ACCNS) --  Members of Barksdale's 2d Logistics Readiness Squadron helped mobilize the Louisiana Army National Guard's 1083rd Transportation Company Aug. 30 in response to a request for assistance in south Louisiana in anticipation of Hurricane Gustav making landfall in that region. 

The 2d LRS built equipment pallets and loaded them onto aircraft in what was a joint effort between Barksdale AFB, the Louisiana National Guard, the Louisiana Air Guard and an Army aviation unit. 

"Total force really does mean total force," said 1st Lt. Nicholas Lee, Barksdale's Installation Deployment Officer. "The deployment team received word in the early morning hours today and had the 1083rd on an aircraft heading to south Louisiana by 2:30 p.m." 

The company commander received word that the unit would be activated at 10 p.m., Aug. 29. 

The 1083rd Transportation Company's mission is transportation support for the fleet of buses that will be poised to help evacuate the civilian population if called upon, said Army Capt. James Herriage, the Company Commander. 

"We fully believe in the mission and are prepared to support relief efforts as directed by the Governor of Louisiana," said Captain Herriage. "When you get to where the rubber meets the road, it's rewarding to be able to help people out of a bad situation." 

The 1083rd was last deployed in 2003 and 2004 in support of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Their parent unit, the 165th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion is currently deployed to Iraq.