By GREG BLUESTEIN
Associated Press Writer
ELLENWOOD, Ga. —; In Iraq, Bobby Couch was known as the go-to guy when his unit needed a spare part or an elusive tool. Thanks to his technical know-how, his fellow soldiers dubbed him “Cooter,” after the wisecracking mechanic in the sitcom “Dukes of Hazzard.”
Couch is once more answering the call to help the U.S. tackle its problems, but this time he’ll be staying within U.S. borders.
He and 149 other Georgia National Guard volunteers are set to arrive Friday morning in New Mexico, where they will help state and federal officials secure the U.S.-Mexico border, said Gov. Sonny Perdue.
“The response of Georgia’s National Guard is that Georgia is always ready, willing and able to do more than its share,” Perdue said in his send-off to the troops Thursday morning.
Although there has been disagreement about how to handle the nation’s illegal immigrants, Perdue said all American share a commitment to secure the border.
The contingent was selected from roughly 400 troops who volunteered, said Maj. Gen. David Poythress. “It’s a great illustration of citizen soldiers stepping up for our country,” he said.
Poythress said the soldiers will man checkpoints, fulfill administrative duties and offer logistics support to free up local police and border patrol officers. The mission will last between four months and a year.
Perdue had said last month that he would offer some of Georgia’s National Guard troops to help with the border patrols outlined by President Bush. However, Perdue said he didn’t want the Guard to be overused, especially since so many troops based in the state have just returned from a dangerous year in Iraq.
The Georgia National Guard includes approximately 12,000 Army and Air National Guard members, approximately 1,000 of whom are deployed to the Middle East.
The 150 troops were a cross-section of the Guard’s military operation specialists, said Lt. Col. Ken Baldowski of the Air National Guard. Logistics experts, engineers and military intelligence specialists dotted the unit’s ranks.
Some, like 19-year-old Travis Burns, were preparing for their first operation. He was frank about why he volunteered to leave his job installing satellite dishes for the mission in New Mexico: “To get out of Martinez,” he said, bursting into a wide grin as he talked about his east Georgia hometown. “It’s something new to do. It’s going to be hot, but I’m ready.”
Others were experienced soldiers who, months after returning from duty in Iraq, volunteered to again leave behind family and job to volunteer. Couch said his wife and three children were understanding —; if reluctant —; about his decision, as was his boss at a south Georgia construction firm.
“Somebody calls and asks for help, I help,” said Couch. “You can’t get it done, you call on us to get it done.”
See tomorrow’s Chattanooga Times Free Press for full coverage.
Associated Press Writer
ELLENWOOD, Ga. —; In Iraq, Bobby Couch was known as the go-to guy when his unit needed a spare part or an elusive tool. Thanks to his technical know-how, his fellow soldiers dubbed him “Cooter,” after the wisecracking mechanic in the sitcom “Dukes of Hazzard.”
Couch is once more answering the call to help the U.S. tackle its problems, but this time he’ll be staying within U.S. borders.
He and 149 other Georgia National Guard volunteers are set to arrive Friday morning in New Mexico, where they will help state and federal officials secure the U.S.-Mexico border, said Gov. Sonny Perdue.
“The response of Georgia’s National Guard is that Georgia is always ready, willing and able to do more than its share,” Perdue said in his send-off to the troops Thursday morning.
Although there has been disagreement about how to handle the nation’s illegal immigrants, Perdue said all American share a commitment to secure the border.
The contingent was selected from roughly 400 troops who volunteered, said Maj. Gen. David Poythress. “It’s a great illustration of citizen soldiers stepping up for our country,” he said.
Poythress said the soldiers will man checkpoints, fulfill administrative duties and offer logistics support to free up local police and border patrol officers. The mission will last between four months and a year.
Perdue had said last month that he would offer some of Georgia’s National Guard troops to help with the border patrols outlined by President Bush. However, Perdue said he didn’t want the Guard to be overused, especially since so many troops based in the state have just returned from a dangerous year in Iraq.
The Georgia National Guard includes approximately 12,000 Army and Air National Guard members, approximately 1,000 of whom are deployed to the Middle East.
The 150 troops were a cross-section of the Guard’s military operation specialists, said Lt. Col. Ken Baldowski of the Air National Guard. Logistics experts, engineers and military intelligence specialists dotted the unit’s ranks.
Some, like 19-year-old Travis Burns, were preparing for their first operation. He was frank about why he volunteered to leave his job installing satellite dishes for the mission in New Mexico: “To get out of Martinez,” he said, bursting into a wide grin as he talked about his east Georgia hometown. “It’s something new to do. It’s going to be hot, but I’m ready.”
Others were experienced soldiers who, months after returning from duty in Iraq, volunteered to again leave behind family and job to volunteer. Couch said his wife and three children were understanding —; if reluctant —; about his decision, as was his boss at a south Georgia construction firm.
“Somebody calls and asks for help, I help,” said Couch. “You can’t get it done, you call on us to get it done.”
See tomorrow’s Chattanooga Times Free Press for full coverage.
