256th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, evacuate LaPlace Residents

By Sgt. Rashawn Price, 241st Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

CARVILLE, La. – Members of the 256th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, continue search and rescue operations in St. John the Baptist Parish using high-water military vehicles and dedicated manpower throughout the day, Aug. 30, 2012.

According to Sgt. 1st Class Samuel Anderson, a significant number of citizens were rescued due to the hard work by his unit.

“My unit has helped rescue hundreds from the parish of St. John the Baptist,” said Anderson, a communications security custodian for C Company, 256th BSTB.

The Soldiers of the 256th BSTB, based in Lafayette, La., worked long hours to accomplish their mission. Search and rescue operations began the night before for many Guard units once Isaac moved beyond their operational areas.

This day’s mission involved driving the high-water vehicles through flooded neighborhoods to rescue stranded citizens from dangerous waters.

“We’ve been working for about 15 hours straight rescuing citizens of this parish and their pets,” said Sgt. Lee Savoy, a cook and supply sergeant for Det. 1, 256th BSTB. “The gratitude of the people of this parish has fueled my passion for serving the community; it makes it easy to take trip after trip to save more lives.”

The 256th BSTB has deployed twice to Iraq in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn.

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