More than 50 Missouri National Guard Soldiers worked to
save the Oregon Water Treatment Plant in Forest City recently.
The Soldiers, from the 1-129th Field Artillery Regiment and 220th Engineer
Company, placed sandbags along a dirt berm in front of the facility to
protect it from rising waters.
“It makes me feel good that we’re out here helping people,” said Spc. Nikolas
Tyra, Battery A, 1-129th. “It’s pretty much why I signed up.”
The plant is crucial to the area’s people, said Sgt. Paul Smith, Battery D,
1-129th.
“The water treatment plant provides clean water for the residents of the
area,” said Smith, of Kansas City. “The people of Forest City will not have
clean water to drink for a while if it floods.”
Smith and several other artillerymen worked in the hot sun with local
volunteers to ensure that does not happen. They had filled up more than 6,500
sandbags in the area.
“It’s hard work, but that’s what we gotta do,” said Smith. “This is what the
National Guard is supposed to be doing.”
The Soldiers received a boost when they were visited by their
commander-in-chief and Missouri’s adjutant general.
Gov. Jay Nixon, who activated the Missouri National Guard to combat the
flooding of the Missouri River, was in Forest City on Monday to assess the
potential for flooding. He and Missouri National Guard adjutant general, Maj.
Gen. Stephen L. Danner dropped in on Citizen-Soldiers who were sandbagging
and thanked them for their dedication and service. Nixon also thanked the
many volunteers on site.
“The citizens of Missouri know they can count on the Missouri National Guard
to provide assistance whenever and wherever a natural disaster occurs — and
so far this year we have had more than our fair share,” Nixon said. “That
strong partnership between local communities and the Guard is key to the
flood fight now going on across our state. From planning to response to
recovery, the National Guard comes prepared to get the job done.”
The Soldiers appreciated the governor’s visit, said Spc. Chris Dickinson, of
Battery D, 1-129th.
“It’s nice that Gov. Nixon is able to come out and see what we’re doing,”
Dickinson, of Marshall. “For him to say ‘thank you,’ it means a lot.”
Danner commended the Citizen-Soldiers for sacrificing time from their
families and jobs.
“The National Guard is a community-based organization,” said Danner.
“Whatever the Guard is doing, it’s always a community effort. These Soldiers
are giving their time to help protect good people from bad things.”
For some Citizen-Soldiers, it is the first time they have been activated for
the state side of the dual National Guard mission. Spc. Dustin Budzene was
excited for the opportunity to serve the state.
“My fiancé hated it because I got real excited about it,” said Budzene with a
laugh. “I told her this is what I signed up for and that it’s better than
sitting around at home.”
Spc. Cody Schmitz and Spc. Bruce Seid, of Battery D, 1-129th, understand that
while they are not necessarily doing what they trained for, which is to
utilize heavy weaponry, their state needs them for an important mission
nonetheless.
“We’ll have our time to use what we train for in the future,” said Schmitz.
“But right now, it’s about helping our state out as best we can.”