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September 12, 2005
New Orleans Marines ride out the hurricane
When Hurricane Katrina hit, the base in New Orleans was evacuated and most Marines headed for higher - and dryer - ground, Staff Sgt. Matthew J. Davis and Sgt. Lorenzo L. Edwards were the only Marines among 25 troops who volunteered to remain behind at the Naval Air Station, watching the storm from a supply bay.
"I have been through typhoons in Okinawa, Japan, but this was worse than anything I ever saw there," said Davis, 3/23 electronics maintenance chief.
"I volunteered because I knew my family was out of harm's way and I could be more useful here," said Edwards, a mechanic. "Growing up in Alabama, I have been through many hurricanes, so I knew what to expect."
As soon as the winds died down, they went to work clearing the Coast Guard landing zones of debris and fallen trees so that search and rescue operations could begin. Next, they loaded seven ton trucks with essentials - food, water, fuel and other supplies - for those in need. The troops ran multiple convoys each day and were, at the time, the only supply force on the west side of the river. In their spare time, they welcomed Marines from the 24th MEU, setting them up with work space and billets.
"We helped in any way we could to get (the MEU) set up," Edwards said. "We gave them information on what was happening on and off base to provide them with better situational awareness."
"I take pride in not only helping as a Marine, but as a resident of this community," Davis said.
(Story details provided by Cpl. Rocco DeFilippis.)
Posted by Deb at September 12, 2005 06:34 PM
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