Missouri infantrymen aid residents of Joplin

Missouri National Guard Citizen- Soldiers from the 1-138th Infantry Regiment volunteered to be part of a 12-man team that aided residents of Joplin in the aftermath of the devastating tornado. Staff Sgt. Shawn Franklin, who is from Kansas City, talks to a local Joplin resident to ensure she has the correct information for the debris removal process.
(Photo by Spc. Antony S. Lee/ Missouri National Guard Public Affairs)

By Spc. Antony S. Lee
Ngmo.pao@us.army.mil

JOPLIN, Mo. - In Joplin Missouri, 12 Missouri National Guard infantrymen have found themselves tasked with a much different mission than what they would encounter overseas.

Instead of breaking down doors, those Soldiers are now going door-to-door to make sure the people of Joplin are getting information that is critical to the ongoing cleanup effort, said Maj. Gen. Stephen L. Danner, adjutant general of Missouri.

"These Guard members embody what it means to be a Citizen-Soldier," Danner said. "Their overseas mission could not be more different from what they're doing now, but these Soldiers bring that same sense of consummate professionalism to their state mission."

The Soldiers, from the 1-138th Infantry Regiment of the Missouri National Guard, found their job requires much more than typical infantry tactics. They found that simply ensuring Joplin residents have correct information for the debris removal process is a way to help their fellow Missourians.

Their mission is to inform the people of Joplin about debris removal forms, said Capt. Ronald Francis, the commander of Company C, 1-138th, St. Louis, who volunteered to lead the team. His team is also providing information concerning volunteers as well as how to get local, state and federal resources.

The Missouri National Guard has been designated to provide state oversight of the debris removal process.

"We're here to assist the public - to help them understand what their options are as far as debris removal and to point them in the right direction," said Staff Sgt. Jerald Creamer.

Residents of Joplin with homes that sustained extensive damage were asked to fill out forms which give government-funded contractors permission to enter their property to clean debris. Nine locations were set up around the city where residents could come and drop off the forms. At least one infantryman was stationed at each location to collect the forms and answer questions.

When there were fewer forms turned in than expected, the infantrymen took to the streets upon request from the city. Their mission was to go into neighborhoods hit hardest by the tornado and make sure citizens had the correct information to get them back on their feet.

"One thing we found is that there is misinformation being put out in the city," said Staff Sgt. Shawn Franklin, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1-138th, Kansas City. "A lot of people may not have the time or resources to make it to the nine locations. The city wanted a presence on the streets to direct people where to go and what to do."

The team split up into four groups and began patrolling neighborhoods, informing residents of their available options and reassuring them that they were not alone in the aftermath of this tragedy.

"Residents tend to trust people in uniforms," said Staff Sgt. Marcus Inman, of Company A, 1-138th, in Boonville.

Inman has previous experience responding to natural disasters. He spent two months running security patrols in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, and noted the similarities of the response to both disasters.

"People are doing things that amaze me," said Inman. "Volunteers are coming from all over the country to help out with the relief efforts. You see the best and the worst of people in disasters, and I've seen a lot of good in Joplin, especially with the volunteers."

What's lost is that Inman himself volunteered for the mission. In fact, every Soldier in the team volunteered to come to Joplin to aid their fellow Missourians. In the process, they have worked with Citizen-Soldiers they had not previously worked with; the 1-138th is based in Kansas City, but the 12 Citizen-Soldiers are from all over the state. They arrived in Joplin on June 6 and are scheduled to be on duty until they are no longer needed.

"This type of mission is good for us," said Staff Sgt. Nichole Howell, of Company C. "We're usually the first ones in a village in a combat zone, and we need to learn to effectively communicate with people."

The Citizen-Soldiers part of the team are: Sgt. 1st Class Anthony Brummett, of Red Oak, Iowa, Staff Sgt. Jerald Creamer, of Caledonia, Mo., Cpt. Ronald Francis, of Fredericktown, Mo., Staff Sgt. Shawn Franklin, of Kansas City, 2nd Lt. Christopher Hoven, of Harrisonville, Mo., Staff Sgt. Nichole Howell, of High Ridge, Mo., Staff Sgt. Marcus Inman, of Jefferson City, Sgt. 1st Class Eric Jordan, of Gideon, Mo., Staff Sgt. Christopher Madsen, of Arnold, Mo., Staff Sgt. Andrew Mynatt, of Marshfield, Mo., 1st Lt. Thomas Williams, of Joplin, Mo., and Staff Sgt. Shawn Wood, of Mexico, Mo.

The Missouri National Guard was on duty the night the tornado hit southwest Missouri, and will remain on duty as long as the citizens need us. There are currently more than 150 Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen on duty.

While hundreds of Missourians have supported state emergency missions during the past five months, they continue to meet their federal mission by conducting unit annual training, preparing Soldiers and Airmen to deploy overseas, and fielding trained forces for service in overseas contingency operations.

Locally and globally, the Missouri National Guard is always ready, always there.

For more information about the Missouri National Guard, please call 1-800-GoGuard or visit www.moguard.com.