The 436th Air Support Group Called to Support The American Red Cross
2005/12/22
Ft Worth Joint Reserve Base, Texas - On 28 Aug 05, the 436th Air Support Group (ASG) of the Texas State Guard, was called to State Active Duty in support of the American Red Cross Hurricane Katrina evacuee relief efforts. Of the 37 unit personnel, 33 were deployed in support of Operation Katrina. Two members, SMSgt Short and A1C Tribble, were immediately deployed to Orange, TX on Aug 29, while the rest of the unit was deployed on Sept 2 to support the relief efforts at the Dallas Convention Center and the Reunion Arena.
One member, Airman Marcela Arredondo, was assigned to Ms. Jo Carter, from the Family Readiness Group to assist in the support of the displaced military families at Carswell Field, Ft. Worth, TX. The members of the 436th ASG, as well as other members of other Texas State Guard units, supported the Dallas Convention Center/Reunion Arena operations 24/7 from Sept 2*Sept 16. This was the first time in 43 years that the Texas State Guard, the Army Brigades and the Air Wing have served jointly under the command of Fourth Brigade Commander, Brigadier General Marshall Scantlin.
In addition to supporting the shelter in Orange, TX and the Dallas Convention Center/Reunion Arena shelters, the 436th ASG was called upon again to support the Hurricane Rita relief efforts. Fifteen members were sent to Bryan/College Station, TX as part of the Army/Air Wing Joint Task Force to support seven separately located shelters from Sept 22*Sept 26. Following the closure of all of the shelters in Bryan/College Station, six members were reassigned to support shelters in Lufkin, TX.
Throughout the month of October, the 436th ASG was called upon to support relief activities in Waco, Kirbyville and Deweyville. Although the 436th ASG had been tasked to train in Red Cross shelter management, the focus of our deployment activity was of shelter security and an unarmed military presence. Throughout all of the deployments, no harm came to any shelter resident or to any of the Texas State Guard members. This speaks volumes of the men and women of the Texas State Guard and of the evacuees. As a unit, the members of the 436thASG are proud to have been called upon to assist the American Red Cross and our fellow countrymen. If we were able to provide security, provide a helping hand or smile and provide words of encouragement and hope to just one of the many people we helped, then all of the long hours have been well spent.
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