29th Infantry Division aids in relief mission

Eight Maryland Army National Guard aviators from Company C, 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment and two medics from Comapny C, 1st Battalion, 169th Aviation Regiment aided the Texas National Guard in a relief mission related to Hurricane Dean in Austin, Texas.

AUSTIN ARMY AVIATION SUPPORT FACILITY, Austin, Texas - Ten 29th ID Soldiers responded rapidly to a no-notice "let's go" mission in August to aid the Texas National Guard in a relief mission related to Hurricane Dean.

To respond to the projected impact of Hurricane Dean as it approached Puerto Rico, 29th Infantry Division leaders turned to eight Maryland Army National Guard aviators from Company C, 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment and two medics from Company C, 1st Battalion, 169th Aviation Regiment. Departing Aug. 17 to a staging area at Jacksonville, Fla., the team reoriented itself after the hurricane veered southwest toward Texas instead.

Arriving Aug. 18, the 29ers from Edgewood, Md., were prepared to employ rescue hoists, conduct search-and-rescue operations and re-supply displaced citizens with food and water, said Staff Sgt. Kelly D. Thomas from the 224th.

CWO3 Michael Fedor said the Guardsmen were "glad to help out with any hurricane relief mission."

"Texas Guard Soldiers relieved us from our tour in Iraq," Fedor said. "It is nice to be able to come down and return the favor by giving these folks a hand."

Flying alongside the 29ers were aviators from the Colorado and Kentucky Army National Guard, who served together with the assault company from the 224th Aviation Regiment at the Balad Airbase in Iraq between October 2005 and October 2006.

Fortunately for all involved, Hurricane Dean's path spared Texas as it veered into largely uninhabited portions of Mexico Aug. 20. Later that day, the 29ers received word to stand down and prepare to move back to their home station.

"The fact that we didn't need to go in after all means that a lot of people aren't suffering because of the destructive impact from a hurricane," said CWO4 Robert J. Berdanier, 224th Aviation Regiment. "That's not a bad thing."

Added CWO4 Albert B. Isennock, also of the 224th, "This was a good training event for us, exercising our logistics capability to move this distance on short notice. We'll take back some important lessons learned - such as best use of satellite telephones for communication and additional "dunker" training for crew members. This will allow us to prepare even better for the next time we're needed."