While at their annual training in Festus, a dozen Citizen-Soldiers with the 220th Engineer Co. (Horizontal) were asked to haul their heavy equipment nearly 400 miles across the state to help with the flood fight in northwest Missouri.
The Missouri Army National Guard has been working in several counties along the Missouri River fighting to keep back the rising waters for weeks. Recently the need arose to move dirt and sand. These engineers answered that call.
“We’re one of the first ones called anytime there’s a flood duty around,” said Lt. Joe Estes, of Fenton. “We’ve got all of the equipment for it.
While in Mound City, the platoon worked alongside other area Guardsmen to reinforce a berm at Davis Creek. Battery D, 1-129th Field Artillery, of Independence, and the 1128th Forward Support Co., based in Marshall, worked in the heat with other community members to protect the town from the increasing water.
“Even though this is a small town, people are people,” said Estes.
Missions such as this are not in unchartered waters for Estes and the rest of his unit. Earlier this spring, these engineers played a major role with the daunting flood fight in southeast Missouri.
“This isn’t our first rodeo,” said Estes. “We’ve worked three [state emergencies] already and it’s just now summertime.”
The northwest Missouri flooding marks the fifth state emergency of the year. It is the second flood mission the Missouri National Guard has taken on in 2011 and the seventh flood response since 2007.
“Anytime we can get out there, there’s a personal satisfaction that comes with helping people,” said Staff Sgt. Randy Hargis, of Pacific. “You can say you took part in saving a town from a flood.”
Though these troops were called away from a two-week training with the rest of their company, both Estes and Hargis agree that the real-world, hands-on experience they are getting over six hours away from home is invaluable.
While helping fellow Missourians, these engineers can still hone their skills operating heavy machinery such as wheel loaders, dump trucks and skid loaders.
“They’re getting stick time and they were all stoked about coming here to help,” said Hargis.
“It’s a double bonus helping people out and getting training on your piece of equipment,” said Estes.
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