Illinois National Guard Adjutant General Visits Troops in Cairo

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Maj. Gen. William L. Enyart of Belleville, the 37th Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard, meets with Pvt. Adam Sims of Charleston and Pvt. Jeremy W. Wallace of Flora

SPRINGFIELD, IL (05/03/2011)(readMedia)-- Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn and Maj. Gen. William Enyart of Belleville, the Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard, visited Cairo May 2 during military and state operations aiding southern Illinois residents and communities threatened by rising flood waters.

To date approximately 450 Illinois National Guard troops have been activated to aid the ongoing operation lead by Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA).

Soldiers and Airmen have conducted numerous missions aiding communities threatened by the rising rivers.

Soldiers with the 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment have filled several thousands of sandbags and distributed them to hold back water. Since the operation has started vehicle under Joint Task Force – South have driven more than 28,000 miles, moved Soldiers, supplies and conducted area reconnaissance of levees, in southern Illinois. Illinois National Guard troops also helped evacuate the town of Cairo after a mandatory evacuation order was issued Cairo Mayor Judson Childs.

Enyart visited with troops checking on the morale and motivation of the Soldiers and Airmen.

"It's good to see these troops in high spirits," said Enyart. "They're tired, they're wet but they still putting in long hard hours on the mission helping the communities and its people during their time of need."

Several of the Illinois National Guardsmen aiding IEMA are from the local areas.

"The mission of Illinois Guardsmen is to help their communities when crisis strikes," said Enyart. "These citizen-Soldiers have put their normal lives aside to assist members of their community and surrounding communities in southern Illinois."

The Illinois National Guard will remain supporting relief efforts mission until Quinn declares the end of the state of emergency in Illinois.

photo 1) U.S. photo by Sgt. Charlie Helmholt, 139th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment/ Maj. Gen. William L. Enyart of Belleville, the 37th Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard, meets with Pvt. Adam Sims of Charleston and Pvt. Jeremy W. Wallace of Flora in the 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment. Enyart presents the Guardsmen a coin, a highly respected tradition in the Army, for their hard work and service in the disaster relief efforts.

photo 2) U.S. photo by Sgt. Charlie Helmholt, 139th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment/ Maj. Gen. Michael J. Walsh, commander of the Mississippi Valley Division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, along with Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn speak at a press conference May 2 regarding the instability of the levee threatening to devastate the city of Cairo. To date approximately 450 Illinois National Guard troops have been activated on State Active Duty to aid the flood relief efforts lead by Illinois Emergency Management Agency.