President George W. Bush greets Guardsman, residents of Americus on tour of the storm-stricken area.

AMERICUS, Mar. 3, 2007- Members of the Georgia Army and Air Guard were called to duty in the wake of a deadly tornado that ripped through portions of southwest Georgia Thursday night.

More than 130 Guardsmen participated including members of Company C, 2nd Battalion, 121st Infantry from Americus

The Soldiers were supported by the 148th Support Battalion along with aviation assets from the 185th Aviation Battalion. Air Guard support came from the 283rd Combat Communications Squadron, Dobbins Air Reserve Base; 202nd Engineering and Installation Squadron, Macon; 165th Airlift Wing, Savannah; and 116th Air Control Wing, Warner Robins..

“The Army and Air Guardsmen here this weekend couldn’t have performed better,” said Lt. Gen. David B. Poythress, Georgia's Adjutant General. “Thanks to the cooperation of Guardsmen and police, there have been zero law enforcement problems.”

Captain Brian Lassetter, Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 121st Infantry said, “Our mission here is to assist and provide stability and support for local and state law enforcement agencies.”

Originally called in Friday, Guardsmen manned 36 checkpoints in and around devastated portions of Americus, where they helped police to enforce the “dusk till dawn” curfew, and to keep traffic and pedestrians away from unsafe areas, Lassetter said.

Army Guard medevac support was also on hand to help evacuate wounded civilians and those displaced from Sumter Regional Hospital, which was forced to shut down due to extensive damage from a direct hit by the tornado, according to Lassetter.

In addition, the Air Guard provided communications support, and high-powered light sets and generators around checkpoints where power was out, said Lassetter.

In remarks to troops gathered at the National Guard Armory in Americus, Maj. Gen. Terry Nesbitt, commander, Georgia Army Guard, applauded the efforts of Guardsmen in response to the tragedy. “Your presence here really adds a sense of security to the people of Americus.”

William Bowen, chairman of the Sumter County Board of Commissioners, and former engineer with the Guard, agreed with Poythress and Nesbit on the contribution of Soldiers and Airmen.

“They have definitely been an asset to us this weekend. They have been invaluable in adding to the level of security and comfort the citizens of Americus feel,” he said.

Specialist Roberto Martinez, 2nd Battalion, 121st Infantry, was one of the Guardsmen pulling duty at a checkpoint.

“I was impressed how the people around here reacted,” Martinez said. “I saw everybody helping one another out a lot, from the people of Americus, to the police and the Guard.”

Sergeant Russ Covington, Georgia State Patrol, commenting on the teamwork between law enforcement and Guardsmen said, “I think it worked out well.”

Standing beside Covington at the same checkpoint was Spc. David Lowary, 2nd Battalion, 121st Infantry.

“I’ve never worked in partnership with police units before, so it was great for me to see how we could pull together and do this,” added Lowary.

Outside of manning checkpoints, some Guardsmen found other ways to support the victims of the tornado.

Specialist John Lennon, recruiting and retention specialist, 2nd Battalion, 121st Infantry, found some towels and toiletry supplies he had leftover from the mission to support those displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Together with Pfcs. Shane Untch and Cody White, both Americus natives, Lennon brought the supplies to those in need at the Red Cross relief shelter housed in the First Baptist Church of Americus.

While they were there, the three Soldiers assisted Red Cross workers by carrying boxes of supplies into the shelter.

“Any way we can help out, we’re happy to do it,” said Lennon.

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